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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 21 February 2018

Judge declares mistrial in Philadelphia mob boss fraud case

running a scheme to col- misled by "compromised" argued the tapes showed
lect thousands of dollars of turncoat mobsters who Merlino had full knowledge
insurance claims by brib- testified against Merlino, of the frauds. In one con-
ing doctors to write phony including one who made versation played for the jury
pain cream prescriptions hundreds of hours of secret about bribing doctors, he is
for people who had no ail- recordings of him. heard saying, “We do the
ments, prosecutors said. “Have you heard anybody right thing, make 20,000.”
"Being with Merlino did not say Joseph Merlino is the In another, he frets about
come for free," Assistant boss of the Philadelphia “stool pigeons.” Merlino,
U.S. Attorney Lauren Schorr mob?” Jacobs asked, re- 55, once controlled the
said during closing argu- ferring to tapes played for remnants of a Philadelphia
ments. "You pay tribute." the jury. “The answer is obvi- organized crime family
Defense attorney Edwin Ja- ous — not a peep that he’s that was decimated by a
cob countered by telling the boss of (the) Philadel- bloody civil war in the 1980s
jurors that they were being phia mob.” But prosecutors and 1990s. q

In this Jan. 31, 2018 photo, Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino enters
federal court in New York. A judge Tuesday, Feb. 20, declared
a mistrial at the New York City racketeering trial of Merlino, a
notorious Philadelphia mob boss.
(AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

By TOM HAYS "Thank God for the jury," a
Associated Press subdued Merlino told re-
NEW YORK (AP) — A mistrial porters afterward. He de-
was declared on Tuesday clined further comment.
in the New York City rack- There was no word from the
eteering trial of a notorious government on whether it
Philadelphia mob boss who would seek another trial.
had insisted he quit his life Prosecutors had alleged
of crime after a lengthy that instead of retiring,
prison term. Merlino muscled his way
Jurors at the trial of Joseph into gambling and health
"Skinny Joey" Merlino told insurance schemes run by
U.S. District Judge Richard crime families on the East
Sullivan in a series of five Coast. He used his stand-
notes that they were hope- ing as a feared figure in the
lessly deadlocked after Mafia to demand protec-
nearly four days of delib- tion payments from book-
erations. ies and other underlings

Taco Bell cashier is out after

putting racial slur on receipt

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Taco sylvania Ph.D. student In
Bell says an employee who Young Lee told the Daily
used a racial slur to refer Pennsylvanian it's impor-
to an Asian-American cus- tant to make a conscious
tomer no longer works for effort to fight racism.
the fast-food chain. Lee also posted an image
The company issued the of the receipt on Facebook
statement Tuesday follow- and a message saying he
ing reports that a cashier in was "infuriated" by the in-
Philadelphia entered a slur cident. Taco Bell says the
to describe a student on a franchisee is retraining staff
printed receipt during the at the restaurant and man-
weekend. agement has apologized
First-year University of Penn- directly to Lee.q