Skinny May Have Made Bail: Other Alleged Mob Associates Not So Lucky
Not all mob associates have been able to come up with the $5 million Philadelphia Mafia head Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino made bail with late last week.
Among those that will have to remain in prison, 49-year-old Ralph Santaniello of Springfield, Massachusetts.
He was part of a massive roundup two weeks ago that resulted in the arrest of 40 alleged members of the Genovese, Gambino, Luchese and Bonanno Crime families as well as that for which Merlino led in Philadelphia.
Citing the “casual brutality” displayed in an exchange with an individual he is accused of extorting, U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson denied bail to Santaniello Wednesday.
A member of the so-called “Springfield Crew”, Santaniello was among four whose arrests were first reported on that culminated in a four-state sweep.
He has pleaded not guilty to extorting a local tow truck company owner, gambling and loansharking.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
