Inside Mob Boss Joey Merlino's Murder Acquittal

According to Philly Voice, the man known as "Skinny Joey" was once hailed "Philadelphia's only celebrity gangster." While he might spend more time in the limelight than other convicted criminals, he actually comes from a long line of notorious mobsters, including his father, Salvatore "Chuckie" Merlino, a reputed underboss who died in prison in 2012 (per The Philadelphia Inquirer).

Notedly, Joey Merlino rose to underworld fame in the early '90s, just two short years after his father's racketeering conviction. He has since followed the path of the Philadelphia crime family just about every step of the way, but with one exception. PennLive reports that unlike underbosses of the past who remained tight-lipped and illusive, Skinny Joey embraced the inevitable spotlight cast upon him and his activities. He was frequently spotted club hopping along the Delaware Avenue strip, his flashy attire and charismatic smile only overshadowed by his charitable contributions and the famous feasts he put together annually for the homeless community.

He managed to skate by on his popularity and family legacy for almost an entire decade too, but in 1999, he was arrested on drug charges and temporarily detained (via Casetext). A slew of criminal charges and convictions would soon follow. His future looked bleak in 2001, yet somehow he managed to avoid any convictions related to murder (per ABC News).

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