Without Joey: Philly mob time line

Since

Joey Merlino

started shuffling through the federal prison system in 1999, the Philly mob has been much less colorful. Here's a look at La Cosa Nostra since Merlino's been jailed.

_ June 1999: Merlino and 10 others are arrested in a sweeping murder, drug and racketeering investigation. Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi takes over.

_ October 1999: Mob associate Ron Turchi, who reportedly tried to "buy" the Philly mob-boss seat, is found killed and stuffed in the trunk of his car at 7th and Federal streets.

_ April 2000: Merlino is indicted based in large part on information provided by former mob boss Ralph Natale.

_ May 2000: Natale, the first American mob boss to cooperate with the feds, pleads guilty to racketeering and agrees to testify against Merlino.

_ July 2001: Merlino and six co-defendants are convicted of federal racketeering charges, but acquitted of murder, after a 15-week trial.

_ Dec. 3, 2001: Merlino and consiglieri George Borgesi are sentenced to 14 years, and underboss Marty Angelina is sentenced to 78 months for racketeering and conspiracy.

_ Dec. 6, 2001:William Rinick is found in his underwear under a bed in Merlino's house during a drug raid; later convicted of murder and drug trafficking.

_ January 2002: Raymond "Long John" Martorano is shot near 8th and Spruce while sitting in his Lincoln Town Car, and dies a few days later.

_ November 2003: Mob associate John "Johnny Gongs" Casasanto, on house arrest for stabbing singer Chico DeBarge at Club Deco, is found shot to death inside his South Philly home. He was reportedly trying to defect to New York's Gambino crime family.

_ March 9, 2004: Merlino is acquitted in federal court on murder and conspiracy charges in the 1996 death of disloyal mob underling Joseph Sodano.

_ June 2004: Joseph "Mousie" Massimino, the mob's former No. 2 man, is sentenced to 10 years in prison for running South Jersey gambling operation.

_ January 2005: Natale is sentenced to 13 years in prison.

_ July 2008: Operation Delco Nostra busts up a lucrative gambling and loan-sharking operation run out of Delaware County by Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, allegedly on behalf of Borgesi. Monacello is later sentenced to 11 1/2 to 23 months in prison.

_ September 2008: Roger Vella, Merlino's former bodyguard, is sentenced to 140 months on racketeering-conspiracy charges. Vella agreed to testify against the mob and admitted luring Turchi to his death.