Joey Merlino Indicted In Connection With Alleged Organized Crime Activities
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --*UPDATE 8/9/16: Joey Merlino's lawyer seeks delay in detention hearing. It's now scheduled for Friday morning.
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Convicted gangster Joey Merlino has been indicted by the US District Court in New York in connection with ongoing organized criminal activities.
The indictment says the organization known as the "East Coast Enterprise" operated in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Florida. It included members of the Genovese, Gambino, Luchese, Bonanno and Philadelphia Organized Crime families. These families are also known as La Cosa Nostra, or the Mafia.
The organization is charged with engaging in crimes including extortion, arson, illegal gambling, loan sharking, credit card fraud and gun trafficking.
The indictment says the organization's racketeering activities began in 2010 and continued until at least June of 2016. The other crimes happened within that time span.
Merlino went to federal prison in 2001 on charges of racketeering, including extortion and illegal gambling. He was released in 2011, but was sent back to prison for 4 months last year after meeting with a number of members of the Philadelphia crime family, which was a violation of his parole.