AS PREDICTED THE FEDS FLIP A RAT IN CASE VERSUS MERLINO

For a few months we have been discussing the ongoing saga that is the "Skinny" Joey Merlino trial.  I have played out all the different scenarios over the last few weeks, even going so far as to predict that the FEDS last shot at pinning the alleged boss of the Philadelphia mafia in any sort of trial would be if they flipped another informant.  I predicted it, and earlier in the week, we found out this is such the case.

One of the biggest problems the FBI has had, is the testimony of mob mole John Rubeo, the evidence chain, and even the suspension of an FBI supervisor. The Government's case against Merlino was soft at best considering the majority of evidence against Merlino was based solely on the words of Rubeo.  Without anyone else corroborating evidence it appeared as if Merlino would play his hand and likely walk away without any time. 

Most of the defendants in this case have accepted plea agreements.  Now, Merlino's driver Brad Sirkin has seen the light and plead guilty to participation in a $157 million dollar insurance fraud scheme allegedly headed by Joey Merlino and others allegedly associated with the five families.  As a part of his deal he is looking at a 10 year sentence in Florida plus a 20 year sentence in New York for his actions. 

Peter "Pug" Lovaglio, whose currently serving an 8 year sentence for smashing a glass into someones face who worked at a sushi bar, is now the main mouthpiece for the government against Merlino.  How bad is this? I think it shows that the government is unrelenting in it's task to put Merlino behind bars.  It seems very familiar to me, because one may make some assertions here about how the government went after John A. Gotti Jr.  Just how much Lovaglio knows is anyone's guess, but the news isn't good for Merlino.  The problem with Lovaglio isn't so much what he knows about Merlino, but what he knows about others as well, which is sending a bit of a tremor through the underworld.  People are simply worried he's going to out everyone which is usually what these rats do, and it's exactly what Lovaglio is likely to do.

What bends me about the government in this particular case is that all the evidence they have seemed to have collected is marred with broken rules, misconduct and assertions.  They tried desperately to flip others to no avail, and now they throw the hail Mary, and you had better bet this is a last ditch effort for them to nail Merlino to the wall.  Whether the testimony of Lovaglio is fruitful or not remains to be seen, but it could very well have a schism effect on others which could produce new informants in a short amount of time, and that for Merlino is going to be a big problem.