Hit in Northeast PA?

[PHL_Mob]

I randomly came across some interesting threads between some locals in the Northeast/Pocono region (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Nesquehoning) about Joey Merlino and his cousin named David DeMelfi who is from an area called Lake Hauto in this Nesquehoning area. Basically, the gist of the conversations were that this DeMelfi guy was a major associate of Joey Merlino's along with being his cousin and in addition happens to be a high ranking Teamsters official with one of the Teamsters Locals up there as well as being on a Nesquehoning Counselman, which adds an interesting element to his relationship with Merlino. Apparently, Merlino has been spotted numerous times up there eating dinners at local Italian restaurants, hanging out with DeMelfi at the local casino up there (this was before the recent PA casino ban) and driving around with DeMelfi and other cohorts around the area on many occasions. Likewise, DeMelfi has been spotted with Merlino in Margate/the Jersey shore where he supposedly has a house as well as South Philly. Apparently, this DeMelfi was part of the crew who was involved in the SugarHouse altercation with Merlino as well as on Merlino's birthday last year where they were seen hopping around the local hangouts (Sons of Italy Club, etc). They also went as far to say that while DeMelfi is monitoring various business interests of his and Joey's in NE PA, he is also monitoring and the defacto caretaker of some other joint business interest in South Philly that he and Joey have. If I had to guess, it might be some sort of gambling businesses that they have going up there and/or scrap metal businesses, which I remember reading him being linked to in years past. I don't have any other info except for the gist of what I gave above, but if any of the above holds true then it would make sense that Merlino has in a way moved into the Northeast part of the state now that D'Elia went bad and Merlino has a trusted relative in his connected cousin Dave DeMelfi as his conduit overseeing things for him up there. I know Merlino and Ligambi both had business relationships with D'Elia and it wouldn't be far fetched to say that when D'Elia exited the picture, Merlino put someone else in there who knows the region to try and get some things going and what not. DeMelfi's past influence with the Teamsters as well as position as a Counselman makes things all the more interesting.

Let me know what you guys think or if you have heard anything at all yourselves?

[Wiseguy]

Not to mention 2 hours from both NYC and Philly. I can def see guys from either city having interests in NEPA.

Well... they don't. This has been theorized by forum members in the past and NEVER, NOT ONE TIME has any LE Agency came out and said that. There's nothing to run, the factories are shut down, people are out of work and paychecks aren't coming in. It's a fairy tale at best

Agreed.

Looking over the cases I'm aware of since 2000, there have been a couple small bookmaking cases but I don't know if they really had a mob connection. In 2012 there was that huge video poker bust where over 400 machines were confiscated from 187 businesses. They were owned by Christopher Pisano and Albert Christian Ceccoli of Pennsylvania Coin. Again, no idea about a mob connection. But in an unrelated case in Scranton in July 2000, Pisano had been extorted by Joseph Franza (owner of Smokin' Joe's Tavern) and Van Edward Chiavacci for "back tax" on the money he owed them for the privilege of his company (ABC Amusements) placing vending machines in local businesses.

I doubt any outside families have moved in. The general trend has been shrinking territory or remaining families just holding onto what they have.

[JCB1977]

If Merlino were anywhere near Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the USA Today would have had a photo on the front page. He can't cough without federal heat. Consider the source.