JOEY MERLINO PLEA DEAL? FUGGEDABOUTIT!!

Over three weeks ago, I said "Skinny" Joey Merlino would not accept any plea deal from the Federal Government.  I said, he would force trial.  I was right, and the snails are finally catching on.  Today George Anastasia posted an article acknowledging what I had already reported over a month ago.  The reason, why I even mention Anastasia here, is because he's the "expert," however I have beaten most of them to news repeatedly the last few months.  I take simple pride in knowing what I know.  It may appear ego driven here, and perhaps it is, but I am good at what I do, despite others taking shots at me left and right on social media because all they do is talk to informants.  Ninety percent of the time they post bogus information.  One particular "blogger," fills his page with misinformation on a daily basis, and can't take criticism at all, but more on that in another article.

It should come to no shock to anyone that Merlino would scoff at a plea deal.  Recently co-defedants such as Pasquale "Pasty" Parello accepted a plea deal(3 counts to commit extortion), and is expected to be sentenced to 3-5 years. Perhaps for the septuagenarian the deal makes sense.  Who wants to do a stiff amount of time in their 70's?  For Merlino though, refusing to accept the Government's version of events, is exactly what he should do.

If you have been following along, the biggest issue in this indictment, is how the FBI came about the information, and said tapes, by mob stoolie John Rubeo. The exact issue and why the Government's case is falling apart is because of misconduct by the FBI.  The FBI intentionally withheld evidence(wiretaps)from other field agencies in Florida in an attempt to stifle piggybacking.  In laymen's terms, information was not shared and some are very bitter about it.  As well, there are a million questions as to which Rubeo was handled(no supervision) and how the evidence was actually collected, which could essentially make Rubeo the John Alite of this trial.  The FBI doesn't want to drop Rubeo on the stand when essentially he's a liar, and versions of events and evidence can be contradicted big time.  The FBI wants a conviction, and with Rubeo taking the stand it's very shaky ground at best.  It means the FBI "HAD" a strong case, now, not so much.

The FBI has wanted those accused to take plea deals ONLY because the case isn't strong.  For some like Parello as stated above it makes sense to drop a plea, but for Merlino, he has to roll the dice here. It may not even be a matter of rolling the dice, just simply thumbing his nose at the FBI saying, "Prove it."  If Rubio does take the stand the FBI risks getting entirely embarrassed.  Something they don't need, which is the reason they reached out to Merlino in the first place.  It's also going to be hard for the FBI to produce any verifiable witnesses because of the misconduct mentioned above.

The one thing that hasn't helped Merlino, not that it has a direct result on his position, is that others in the sweeping indictment for racketeering, medicaid and medicare fraud, insurance fraud and etc have accepted the Government's version of events. It gives the appearance that they accept what they did and admit to what they did.  Pretty sad if you ask me, because some of these guys are old school mobsters.

What is interesting is that Joey Merlino was not indicted in Florida.  It's a little strange to say the least. Also worth mentioning here is that two of the FBI agents involved in this fiasco are facing harsh disciplinary actions for how they have handled Rubeo.

Merlino for everything people don't know about him, won't admit to anything nor should he.  The burden in this case is on the Federal Government to prove it's case based almost entirely on the words of an informant, who at this point is about as believable as Pinocchio, John Alite, and Sammy Gravano.  The other evidence is those wiretaps.  If Merlino's attorney's can prove what the majority of those in the know, know, then it should be easier to get the evidence tossed, or at least questioned to the point of reasonable doubt.  Merlino is taking a calculated risk here, but in the end, he wouldn't be fighting it if he didn't think he had more than a reasonable chance to stuff it in the face of the FBI.