Judge delays reputed ex-mob boss’ prison sentence

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The reputed former Philadelphia mob boss who was ordered back to prison for violating his parole won’t have to start his sentence until January.

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Joseph “Skinny Joey” Merlino won’t start his four-month prison sentence for failing to report an encounter he had with a former co-defendant next week as previously scheduled. Merlino was sentenced last month.

The judge rejected the 52-year-old Merlino’s request to postpone his sentence pending an appeal.

Merlino has been living in Florida after spending about a decade behind bars following a 2001 racketeering trial. As part of his release, he’s not supposed to have contact with fellow mobsters.

Merlino told the judge he just happened to bump into John “Johnny Chang” Ciancaglini in June and forgot to report it.