Convicted mobster admits violating terms; gets jail

Convicted mob racketeer Marty Angelina was ordered back to prison for four months yesterday after admitting to a federal judge that he had violated the terms of his probation by meeting with known felons and members of La Cosa Nostra since his release from prison 15 months ago.

They were "bad choices," the onetime enforcer for jailed mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino said during a probation revocation hearing before U.S. District Judge R. Barclay Surrick in Philadelphia. "I apologize . . . it won't happen again."

Angelina's surprising mea culpa wasn't enough to keep him out of jail but it apparently led Surrick to impose substantially less time than the 10-month maximum Angelina had faced. Angelina, 44, is to surrender to federal marshals in two weeks. The violations included meetings and phone conversations with reputed mob boss Joseph Ligambi and mob associates Steven Frangipanni, Damion Canalichio and Michael Lancelloti.

Angelina's attorney, Jack McMahon, conceded that his client had violated the terms of his probation, but said, "There is no allegation of any criminal activity." - Inquirer staff