October 7-13, 2004 city beat Ali Bye-Bye The imam’s wife predicts prison time and a mobster’s laid to rest. by Brendan McGarvey After being indicted last week, Faridah Ali, wife of prominent Muslim cleric and Mayor Street political ally Imam…

July 22-28, 2004 city beat Howdy, Joey! Merlino gets a new Kentucky home, a capo learns etiquette and bikers just can’t get along. by Brendan McGarvey Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino is on the move. After beating a federal murder rap…

May 27-June 2, 2004 city beat Drugs, Bugs and Biker Thugs North Philly abuzz after coke roundup; South Philly sees some mob action. by Brendan McGarvey “I don’t know anybody named Savage,” Faridah Ali tells City Paper. Ali and her…

March 11-17, 2004 city beat Skinny Joey’s Victory Party Mob Scenes From an Italian Restaurant by Brendan McGarvey NEWARK, N.J. — Rita Merlino and her entourage had just ordered lunch at the Green Street Cafe across from City Hall when…

March 4-10, 2004 city beat Billy’s Back in Town An out-of-town mob honcho meets with the Philly don. by Brendan McGarvey Late last week, organized-crime investigators followed reputed Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Mafia boss Billy D’Elia through Center City. At 6-foot-4, 240 pounds,…

February 19-25, 2004 city beat Holding the Line A local biker gang stares down its rival — and a tattooing legend. by Brendan McGarvey In their latest effort to keep the Hells Angels from gaining a toehold in Philadelphia, the…

January 15-21, 2004 city beat Lawyers, Clubs and Money Joey’s in court and his wife’s outta the money. by Brendan McGarvey Joey Merlino will be the only person left standing when the federal murder trial of North Jersey gangster Joseph…

[an error occurred while processing this directive] November 27-December 3, 2003 city beat Joey Merlino Predicts a Big Victory Visiting day with the former mob boss brings hints of a “bombshell.” by Brendan McGarvey Joey Merlino is gone but he…

[an error occurred while processing this directive] September 25-October 1, 2003 city beat Web Angels Bikers take to the Internet and a rat takes to the stand. by Brendan McGarvey Already involved in a battle to wrest control of the…