May 02, 2017
Reputed Philly mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino will get to stand as best man at his buddy Michael Caudo's wedding Sunday in Florida — but will have to bounce before the ceremony's over.
That's when Anthony Cirillo, Merlino's co-defendant in a racketeering case, will be allowed to show up for the following reception.
The New York Daily News reports a federal judge in New York has permitted the two to attend their friend Caudo's ceremony, just not at the same time, as they're legally barred from having contact with each other.
“Defendant Merlino shall attend only the wedding ceremony on (Sunday) and not the reception,” wrote Manhattan Federal Court Judge Richard Sullivan in his Thursday ruling.
“Defendants Merlino and Cirillo shall not speak to each other or otherwise communicate with each other.”
Merlino also received the go-ahead to attend Saturday night’s rehearsal dinner when Sullivan extended his court-imposed curfew by three hours to 10 p.m. Merlino — currently out on $5 million bond after his August 2016 arrest as part of a massive mob crackdown — is typically confined to his home between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Merlino was arrested at his Florida home in August as part of a major bust that netted more than 40 alleged mob members on numerous charges, including gambling, loan sharking and extortion.
Currently out on bail, Merlino, 55, is accused of working to rebuild his Philadelphia crime syndicate.
Merlino has been convicted on federal charges twice before and has spent about 20 years in prison over the course of his life.
In March, the New York Post reported that Merlino may walk free, as FBI agents failed to record their conversations with an associate of the Genovese crime family who worked for Merlino, potentially jeopardizing the case.
