Hello readers, today in this article, we will discuss the Net Worth of Joey Merlino in 2023. He is an Italian-American mobster believed to be the boss of the Philadelphia crime family.
In this article, apart from his net worth, we will also discuss Joey Merlino’s early life, crime career, and personal life. So read this article till the end.
Also, before bouncing off this article, don’t forget to watch Joey Merlino’s biography video at the end of this article.
Joey Merlino Net Worth 2023 | Biography
Joey Merlino’s full name is Joseph Salvatore “Skinny Joey” Merlino. He came into power when in the mid-nineties after fighting a war for control of the criminal organization. Moreover, he led the crime family in gambling, loan sharking, and extortion.
Joey is very different from other mob bosses. Other mob bosses try to stay away from the limelight, but Joey regularly interacts with the media and the public.
Joey was convicted of several RICO charges, including racketeering, illegal gambling, and extortion. Furthermore, in 2001, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
After getting released from prison in 2011, the crime reporters believe he runs the Philadelphia-South Jersey Mafia. But Joey denied this and claimed that he retired from a life of crime.
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Joey Merlino Early Life
He was born on 13 March 1962 in Philadelphia. His father is Salvatore “Chuckie” Merlino, and his mother is Rita Giordano.
His father owned and operated the 9M Bar in Southwark that Nicky Scarfo used as his criminal headquarters when he was trying to become the new boss of the Philadelphia crime family.
He was raised in South Philadelphia and Ventnor City, New Jersey. Moreover, he is the nephew of the late Philadelphia crime family mobster Yogi Merlino.
Joey has attended the St. Thomas Aquinas grade school in Philadelphia’s Point Breeze neighborhood. Since school, he had been friends with the future-made man in the Philadelphia crime family Michael Ciancaglini and his brother Joseph Ciancaglini.
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Joey Merlino Crime Career
Criminal Activity
At the age of 20, Joey and Salvatore Scafid beat and stabbed two male patrons at the Lido Restaurant in Atlantic City. In 1984, he was found guilty on two counts of aggravated assault.
In 1984, he was banned by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission from New Jersey casinos. Joey was described as a particularly vicious person by most people.
Moreover, during an annual Christmas party for the homeless, Joey invited a TV crew to cover his party. At that time, he was known to beat up people, rob people, and start fights in clubs.
Once during an interview, a reporter asked Joey about a rumored $500,000 bounty on his life, to which Joey replied, give me the half-million dollars, and I’ll shoot myself.
In 1989, he was charged with interstate theft and conspiracy charges, and in 1990 he was convicted of planning the heist and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Mob Wars
He served his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution, McKean, and there he met Ralph Natale, who was a long-time mobster.
While in jail, he and Ralph make a plan to take over the Philadelphia crime family with the help of Joey’s close friends.
Joey was released from prison in 1992. In 1991 John Stanfa became the new leader of the Philadelphia family. But Joey and Ralph’s young group of mobsters rebelled against John.
So to stop this, John officially inducted Merlino into the crime family in the hope that he could keep tabs on the Merlino crew and make it easier to kill them if necessary.
Although it temporarily stops the violence. But in 1993, an assassination attempt was made on Joey by John gunmen. Joey takes four bullets in the leg and buttocks.
Later on, Joey takes revenge, and a drive-by shooting was performed on John, but John survived it. After some time, John’s shooters kill Merlino’s friend. In 1993, Joey was arrested by the FBI and sent back to prison.
Mob Leader
In 1994, John was arrested for Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act violations and was sentenced to life in 1996.
By this time, most of John, supporters were also arrested and convicted. Moreover, Joey was released from prison in 1994.
After the release, he won a gang war and became the new boss while positioning himself as his underboss. Joey was the real power in the family, but he allowed Ralph to become boss to direct law enforcement attention away from himself.
Joey has a habit of making big bets with bookies and refuses to pay when he loses. Moreover, he oversaw the crime family’s gambling, loan sharking, extortion, and stolen goods rackets.
In the late 1990’s more than two dozen attempts were made to kill Joey. During this time, he was working with members of the Junior Black Mafia. In 1999, Joey officially took over the crime family from Ralph.
Racketeering conviction
In June 1999, Joey was detained without bail on the charge of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.
Later on, the charges were expanded to racketeering and ordering three murders and two attempted murders. Apart from Joey, six other men were also put on trial.
Many gangsters and mobsters were asked to report at the police station as well as the court. The police get enough evidence to prove that Joey committed various criminal acts in the 1990s.
In 2001, the court gave a mixed verdict. Joey was acquitted of all three counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder but found guilty of racketeering charges, including extortion, bookmaking, and receiving stolen property.
He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. He served his prison sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Terre Haute, Indiana.
Moved to Florida
Joey was released from prison in 2011 after serving 12 years. After the release, he moved to Boca Raton, Florida. Moreover, in 2013 during an interview, he denied any current involvement in the Philadelphia Mafia and said that his life as a criminal is over.
In 2014, he opened a restaurant in Boca Raton named Merlino’s. However, the restaurant was closed in 2016 because he was arrested up and down the east coast in a RICO indictment.
He was charged with racketeering, fraud, and illegal gambling. Joey refused any plea offer and went to trial in January 2018.
But later on, in April 2018, he entered into a plea deal with federal prosecutors. Joey agreed to plead guilty to illegal gambling transactions with a prison sentence between 10 to 16 months.
In October 2018, he was sentenced to 2 years in prison. Furthermore, in October 2019, he was granted an early release and moved to a halfway house.
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Joey Merlino’s Personal Life
Joey is married, and his wife’s name is Deborah Merlino. Both of them got married in 1997. Moreover, they have two children named Nicollete Merlino, and Sophia Merlino.
What is the Updated Net Worth of Joey Merlino in 2023?
Joey Merlino is an Italian-American mobster believed to be the boss of the Philadelphia crime family. Moreover, he has amassed enormous wealth through his professional crime career.
The updated Net Worth of Joey Merlino in 2023 is more than $50 Million. However, most of his wealth is generated using illegal ways.
| Name | Joey Merlino |
| Profession | Mobster |
| Net Worth (2023) | $5 Million |
| Source of Income | Racketeering, Extortion, Bookmaking, Gambling, and other Illegal Activities |
| Last Updated | 2023 |
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