Who is Joey Merlino?
Joseph Salvatore Merlino was born on March 13, 1962, and otherwise known as “Skinny Joey”. He is an Italian American mobster and reputed boss of the Philadelphia crime family, who rose to power in the mid-nineties after he allegedly fought a war for control of the criminal organization. He has led the crime family in gambling, loan sharking, drug trafficking, and extortion. In comparison to other traditional mob bosses who shunned the limelight, Merlino has interacted regularly with the media and the public, often openly providing charity and hosting events to benefit indigent people in Philadelphia, drawing comparisons to the similarly outgoing, conspicuous, and ostensibly charitable late New York crime boss John Gotti. He is the son of deceased Philadelphia crime family underboss Chuckie Merlino.
Who are Joey Merlino’s Daughters
Joey Merlino and his wife, Deborah Merlino are the parents of two beautiful young ladies, Nicolette and Sophia Merlino. Nicolette is 24 years old while Sophia is 23 years old, respectively. The two daughters attends a private Catholic university. Not much is known about them aside the fact that they are the pride and joy of their father, Joey Merlino.
Conclusion
A little from Joey Merlino’s early life is the fact that he is also the nephew of deceased Philadelphia crime family mobster-turned government witness Lawrence “Yogi” Merlino. Joey’s sister, Maria, was briefly engaged to Salvatore Testa.
He had been friends with future made man in the Philadelphia crime family Michael “Mikey Chang” Ciancaglini and his brother Joseph “Joey Chang” Ciancaglini Jr. since attending St. Thomas Aquinas grade school in Philadelphia’s Point Breeze neighborhood. Merlino’s father owned and operated the 9M Bar in Southwark that Nicky Scarfo used as his criminal headquarters during his attempt to become the new boss of the Philadelphia crime family.
