Associated Press / Archives
Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino, right, prepares donations for homeless advocate Cheri Homkala, left, after a party for homeless people, Nov. 21, 1995, at a south Philadelphia restaurant. Earlier in the day Merlino's rival, Mafia boss John Stanfa, was convicted of murder, extortion, kidnapping and related racketeering charges. Merlino has escaped dozens of attempts on his life ordered by Stanfa, including car bombs and poison, and being shot in the buttocks in 1993.
