Meringolo’s distinguished legal career as a practicing attorney and professor of law has earned him a reputation as an expert in federal criminal practice.  He frequently provides expert commentary for periodicals such as the Daily Beast, New York Post and the New York Daily News.

On February 4, 2021, the New York Post quoted Meringolo with respect to President Trump’s second impeachment trial and his right to invoke the Fifth Amendment, noting “[i]t’s embedded in our Constitution.” The article cited Meringolo’s credentials as a Pace University law professor and defense lawyer who won back-to-back acquittals in Manhattan federal court in 2019.

On January 20, 2021, Bloomberg quoted Meringolo stating: ‘98% Conviction Rate’ John Meringolo, a lawyer for one of Bannon’s co-defendants, Timothy Shea, declined to say whether there would be a change in strategy after Bannon’s pardon. “I am happy for Mr. Bannon,” said Meringolo. “Unfortunately the institution of the federal criminal justice system has a 98% conviction rate and a lot of innocent people go to jail. I hope that Mr. Shea can be exonerated.”

On December 31, 2020 Meringolo was quoted in a Forbes article, “The Hitman And The G-Man,” on his cross-examination of John Alite. “Some jurors believed him, some did not,” says John Meringolo, one of Gotti’s two trial lawyers. “The defense's strategy was to portray Mr. Alite as a vicious, brutal killer. He was the most violent cooperating witness that I've ever encountered. We were successful with this particular jury, showing that we could not let a violent criminal like Mr. Alite get away with his crimes, while Mr. Gotti, who was not violent in our opinion, be convicted. And I believe the jury disregarded the [cooperation] agreement made with this mass murderer.”

On May 23, 2019, Meringolo was quoted in the The Washington Post article “MLB Teams’ Involvement with Cuban Players Under Justice Department Scrutiny.” The Post recognized Meringolo as a New York-based federal criminal defense attorney who has consulted with lawyers involved with the investigation. Meringolo said federal prosecutors clearly have ambitious goals and that “Based upon the scope and breadth of the investigation, I think some of the GMs and others should start retaining counsel.”

On March 26, 2019, the New York Post recognized Meringolo’s recent back-to-back acquittals against Manhattan federal prosecutors and quoted him regarding attorney Avenatti’s claims of innocence in the face of serious criminal charges. Meringolo observed that “he may want to take the stand at one point. He’s giving the government cross-examination material.”

On March 8, 2019, Meringolo commented in the New York Post on the death of Carmine “The Snake” Persico’s death. Drawing on his extensive experience representing reputed Mafiosos, Meringolo commented that “he’s from the bygone era from when organized crime controlled New York City. It was a part of history, just like Al Capone and Jesse James.” said Pace University law-school Professor John Meringolo, who’s repped reputed Mafiosos.

On January 17, 2019, Meringolo weighed in on embroiled Harvey Weinstein’s search for new defense counsel and reported desire to put together a “dream team” of lawyers. “It’s definitely not smart to do that as you need to develop rhythm during trial, potentially pitting witnesses against each other. If attorneys are doing different witnesses and different aspects, the lead attorney may not know what's going on. It’d be like having two separate quarterbacks in a football match.”

On May 14, 2018, the New York Post reported on the US Supreme Court’s sports-betting ruling. Noting that Meringolo hadrepresented John “Junior” Gotti and reputed Philadelphia mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino, the paper quoted Meringolo as opining that the ruling “will have a detrimental effect on the mob and anyone who tries to make a living through this type of vice. For what’s left of what they do, this would significantly hurt their bottom line, if not completely destroy it.”

On November 26, 2015, Meringolo provided commentary to the New York Post regarding jury deliberations in the trial of former Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Sheldon Silver. Meringolo “said his experience suggested the juror was holding out… When there’s chaos in the jury room, it’s always good for the defendant. Statistically, the conviction rate is so high in the federal system, when you have someone willing to take a stand, it means that maybe he’s got a shot.”

On September 17, 2015, the New York Daily News relied upon Meringolo’s expert opinion in an article about the trial of Vincent Asaro, the alleged mobster charged in the Lufthansa heist portrayed in the motion picture Goodfellas. “It’s very rare for a crime to be depicted in a movie or a book before the trial is held,” Meringolo told the Daily News, also referring to the book Wiseguys by acclaimed journalist Nicholas Pileggi, which inspired the film. Meringolo also advised that “the gangland bloodbath depicted in the Goodfellas film in the aftermath of the Lufthansa robbery would be highly prejudicial to Asaro because he was not involved with killing any of the members of the crew.”

On June 6, 2017 the New York Post reported that reputed Mob Boss Joey Merlino hired John Meringolo.  The Post opined that Merlino hired Meringolo, a “big shot lawyer” “who has represented former Gambino boss John ‘Junior’ Gotti and acting capo Greg DePalma” because he was “gearing up for battle in a massive racketeering case brought by Manhattan federal prosecutors, turning down a sweet deal from the feds.”  On February 20, 2018, a federal judge in Manhattan declared a mistrial in Merlino’s case  – a case that threatened to send him back to prison for decades.

https://nypost.com/2019/03/08/carmine-the-snake-persicos-death-marks-the-end-of-an-era/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/harvey-weinstein-wants-el-chapo-and-aaron-hernandez-lawyers-for-dream-team

Cross examination in United States v. Libous, January 2015
Defense Table, United States v. John Gotti, 2009.
Sentencing, United States v. Gregory Depalma, 2006.
Opening Argument, United States v. Gregory Depalma, 2006.
Cross Examination of Joseph D’Angelo. United States v. John Gotti, 2009.
United States v. Joey Merlino Cross examination of former Bonnano Captain, Peter Lovaglio, January 31, 2018.
Acquitted on all counts on March 13, 2019 in United States v. John Zancocchio.
January 2, 2019 Deputy Inspector James Grant was acquitted on all counts.
Summation on March 6, 2019 in United States v. John Zancocchio.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of beloved father, husband, son, brother, uncle, friend and extraordinary trial attorney, John C. Meringolo. This website is being maintained by his wife and sons as a tribute to his life and legacy.  Our beloved John is gone, but never forgotten.

“What we do in life, echoes in eternity”

Please be advised that the law firm is no longer in business and neither representing nor accepting clients.