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News and Features about Organized Crime, Mafia and La Cosa Nostra taken from National and Local News Sources. In an attempt to get you this type of coverage in a timely manner we can not be responsible for the content of the following material. |
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1-8-00 Merlino asks separate trial in thefts. January 8, 2000
by Kitty Caparella Reputed acting mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino wants to separate himself from others accused of running an interstate theft and drug ring in an upcoming trial. One of his lawyers, Edwin J. Jacobs Jr., filed a motion this week to separate Merlino's case from four co-defendants, who, according to an indictment, received $405,871 in stolen goods as part of a $1.3 million interstate theft and drug ring. The legal maneuver was an attempt to distance Merlino from the defendants accused of stealing the goods, according to Merlino co-counsel Joseph Santaguida. U.S. District Judge Herbert Hutton has not ruled on Merlino's pre-trial motion, nor set a trial date. The 37-year-old mob figure remains in custody in federal prison at Fairton, N.J. Meantime, nine other defendants accused of operating the $1.3 million interstate theft ring linked to Merlino yesterday pleaded not guilty to interstate theft, aiding and abetting and conspiracy charges. U.S. District Judge Charles R. Weiner set Feb. 7 as a trial date for the nine. The nine include Robert Miller Sr., 61, of 20th Street near Snyder Avenue, Robert Miller, Jr., 37, of Hemberger Street near Ritner, Wesley DiDomenicis, 38, John DiDomenicis, 44, both of Voorhees, N.J., and Frank Buono, 32, of Passyunk Avenue near Juniper Street. Also, Vincent Romeo, 45, of Hutchinson Street near McKean, Raymond Russo, 54, of Smedley Street near Bigler, Christopher Aleardi, 62, of Sartain Street near Porter and John Berry, 32, of Genessee Drive near Nanton . Assistant U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger asked the judge to hold each of the nine defendants on $50,000 bail. Based on information supplied by accused co-conspirator Fred Angelucci, who is cooperating with the government, the theft ring broke into Ameriport and CSX, both on Delaware Avenue, to steal cargo trailer containers of goods and merchandise. Stolen goods included televisions, TV/VCR combos, electric trains, women's sweatsuits, baby formula, bicycles, computers and electric race-car sets.
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