PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The FBI bailed Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino out of a $15,000 gambling debt at the same time it was gathering evidence against him, a witness testified Friday at the trial of the reputed Philadelphia mob boss.
Merlino had borrowed the money from Philadelphia mob boss Ralph Natale and lost it all during a gambling trip to Las Vegas, mobster-turned-informant Ronald Previte testified.
"Some of it was Ralph's money, and he needed to pay Ralph back," Previte said.
Previte said Merlino asked him for a loan in 1997. Previte, then a mob captain leading a double life as a cooperating witness, approached the FBI about Merlino's request. FBI agents decided to give Previte $15,000 to give to Merlino, Previte said.
Merlino's attorney, Edwin Jacobs Jr., confirmed Previte's story but said Merlino repaid the money.