Merlino whose expensive suits and Rolls Royce are reminiscent of a bygone era, hired mob lawyer and Pace University law professor John Meringolo.

Reputed Philly mob boss Joseph “Skinny Joe” Merlino is gearing up for battle in a massive racketeering case brought by Manhattan federal prosecutors, turning down a sweet deal from the feds and hiring a big-shot lawyer, The Post has learned in June of 2017. Merlino, 55, whose expensive suits and Rolls Royce are reminiscent of a bygone era, hired mob lawyer and Pace University law professor John Meringolo on Tuesday, court papers show.

Merlino hired Meringolo — who has represented former Gambino boss John “Junior” Gotti and acting capo Greg DePalma — because he plans to take his case to trial despite a plea offer that could have left him with less than two years prison time.

On February 20, 2018, Joey Merlino appears to have dodged another bullet. A federal judge in Manhattan on Tuesday declared a mistrial in the latest racketeering prosecution involving the reputed head of the Philadelphia mob – a case that threatened to send him back to prison for decades. See Philadelphia Inquirer.