Joe and Jada - “Skinny” Joey Merlino on Philly’s mob history, RICO cases, WILD prison stories & his LEGENDARY cheesesteaks

Joey "Skinny" Merlino, the self-proclaimed "living legend" of South Philadelphia, drops a raw, unfiltered memoir on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, blending mob lore, prison trauma, and a biting critique of modern culture. Far from a glorified gangster tale, Merlino reveals a man haunted by betrayal, where loyalty is currency and rats are the real monsters. He recounts being falsely accused in a RICO case, surviving solitary confinement that felt like "lab rat" torture, and watching former allies become celebrities while he was locked up. His most chilling revelation? The justice system rewards snitches with freedom and fame, while innocent men rot—like a 93-year-old dementia patient serving 35 years for a minor offense. He exposes the absurdity of modern "documentaries" that profit from half-truths and the internet’s obsession with ratting, calling it a "disease". Yet, amid the violence and paranoia, Merlino’s core message is simple: if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime. And his legacy? Not a criminal empire, but a chain of legendary cheesesteaks and a warning to never, ever betray your brother.