Valuetainment “If You Hang With A Rat, You’re A Rat!” - Joey Merlino REVEALS How He Beat RICO Cases & Stayed Loyal
Mar 20, 2026
Joey Merlino, a former South Philadelphia mob figure known for beating multiple RICO cases, shares his strict personal code and fierce loyalty. He explains why he refuses to associate with informants and recounts courtroom battles. He also reflects on his South Philly upbringing and how neighborhood values shaped his views on trust and betrayal.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Disowning A Relative For Cooperating With Feds
- Joey Merlino disowned his uncle Lawrence after learning he cooperated with authorities and told lies to try to get out of jail.
- Merlino described telling family to ‘‘throw him in the fucking trash’’ and never speaking to him again, even at his death.
Beaten Charges And Family Fallout During Jail Stint
- Merlino recounted beating the same murder charge twice: acquitted in Philadelphia county and then acquitted again in Newark federal court.
- He described being in county jail when his cousin called to say his cooperating uncle had died, and his blunt reaction to the news.
Loyalty And Omertà Trump Blood Ties
- Merlino frames strict non-cooperation as a moral code rooted in upbringing and Omertà rather than just criminal rule.
- He said even visiting a cooperating son would break that code, showing loyalty is prioritized over blood relations.