Arson Suspected At Mob Boss-Owned Philly Cheesesteak Spot: Reports

PHILADELPHIA — An arson investigation is underway after a fire broke out at a cheesesteak spot owned by a convicted mob boss in South Philadelphia.

The fire broke out at about 2 a.m. Thursday at the closed Ace of Steaks, 3020 S. Broad St., Fox 29 reports.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, police found multiple Molotov cocktails inside the business, which is now owned by convicted mob boss Joey Merlino, according to Action News.

Merlino back in March took to social media to announce his plan to enter the cheesesteak business

"Exciting news," he said online. "Breaking ground today at the location for Skinny Joey’s Cheesesteaks! It’s goin to be the best in the city!"

Merlino was convicted of racketeering and sentenced to 12 years in federal prison before being released in 2011. Prior to that conviction, he was acquitted of murder charges in a 2001 trial.

Merlino was also federally charged in 2016 with one count of racketeering, one count of fraud, and two counts of illegal gambling. He was acquitted of those charges in 2018.

He later entered into a plea deal with federal prosecutors that same year regarding one charge of facilitating illegal gambling transactions to drop the remaining charges against him and recommending a prison sentence between 10 and 16 months.

Merlino was sentenced to the maximum of two years in prison and in October 2019 was granted an early release and moved to a halfway house to finish the rest of his sentence.