MOB GUYS ARE GETTING OUT, BUT NOT THOSE WITH MORE VIOLENT CRIMES

We reported a few months ago, that Vinny Asaro, had applied via his attorney's to get a release from prison, due to health complications.  We reported first, that Asaro had suffered a stroke in prison, and was not being cared for in a way that would meet the standard for any inmate who was sick.  Reports became to filter out that Asaro was not being properly cared for, was sitting in dirty clothes, and left sitting in a wheel chair.   According to sources,  Asaro could barely speak, and couldn't even recognize his own family.    Through his attorneys they filed for a compassionate release, and that release was granted a day or so ago.   Asaro, 85, was convicted of arson previously, and given a pretty harsh sentence when you consider most arson convictions range between 2-5 years, and Asaro was nailed with an eight year sentence.  Most have speculated that his acquittal of charges on the infamous Lufthansa heist, infuriated many, and the feds asked for the max in the arson case.

This is how the system operates.  If they can't get you here, they will get you down the line for lesser charges and ask for the max.  It's a simple double jeopardy type of sentencing in my opinion.  Asaro probably wouldn't have gotten that length of sentence, had he not walked from Lufthansa.  In either case, the feds aren't happy about the judges decision to let Asaro go home.  Reports have said that the government is looking into what they can legally do to challenge the decision by the judge.


JOEY MERLINO HOME

Joey Merlino is home with his family. It's become apparent that, guys with relatively short time, with certain medical conditions have been granted a release.  Joey previously had been released from prison and was in a halfway house down in Miami doing construction work.   With Covid-19 stopping everything in it's tracks, it doesn't  make any sense for guys to just sit around, especially if they can't work.

 The entire point of work release and halfway houses, is about working till the end of your sentence.  For Joey, with an underlying medical condition, which was noted months ago during his trial and sentencing, it's not hard to understand why he's now at home.   Merlino will be under "house arrest," until about the end of July, and then he'll be free to go about his life again.


PETE GOTTI, FRANKIE LOCASCIO

I wouldn't expect Frankie Loc or Pete Gotti to get any such deals from the government.  I say that, n
ot because each individually doesn't have a solid argument, because both likely do, but I just don't see the feds doing them any favors.  Like I said above, it's guys with relatively short time that are getting the push out, and I don't think, especially when you consider who Frankie and Pete are, or who were associated with, or were convicted of, albeit it justifiably so or not, are going to get any such consideration.   There is a solid argument about the health status of both, as well as their advancing age.   I think you might have a solid argument if say they had respectively 3 or 4 years left on sentences.  Respectively, Gotti, 80, isn't due out until 9/10/2031.   Locascio, 87, is doing a life bid.

Of the two, I would respectfully say Locascio at his age, should probably get the nod, but he won't because of his convictions along with John Gotti.  I just don't see anyway the feds relent in that situation.  Frankie has been trying to get out for over two years now, and has had  the help of turncoat Salvatore Gravano, who is just now admitting, that Locascio "had nothing to do with the murders."   It's a tad strange considering that Gravano for the last 20 years never bothered to help Frankie out one bit.  Gravano's excuse of "well, nobody asked me, so I didn't say anything," just doesn't hold water at all.  If Gravano knew, he should have said something, but Gravano's  never been one to aptly tell the truth, or his version of the truth, unless it helped him, so that's water over the dam.

For Gotti, by most accounts, really wasn't what the feds made him out to be.  He also has submitted paperwork via his attorney months ago to receive a commuted sentence based on "compassionate release," but that request was denied, and denied quickly.  We can argue if it's that he's a danger to society all day then okay, but I think this has more to do with his last name and his brother, than anything else.   In both cases, I just don't see judges signing off on anything for either one.  The reason they won't, is because if they start doing that, then guys like Anthony Casso will want out, and others like him, and the government isn't going to start allowing a trend, nor will the judges.  I think this is going to be decided by crimes, age, and sentence length.  Relatively short time guys of advanced age or those who fit a health criteria are going to walk, while others simply aren't.