Tony Luke, a prominent figure in Philadelphia’s cheesesteak scene, has initiated a lawsuit against the Philadelphia Inquirer following an article that he claims falsely implicated him in his family’s criminal activities.
The Inquirer article discussed the sentencing of Tony Luke’s father and brother, who received nearly two years in prison for tax fraud after admitting to concealing over $8 million from the IRS.
Central to the lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia’s Common Pleas Court, is an assertion that when Tony Luke distanced himself from the family business, the Inquirer erroneously reported that he took documents revealing the tax fraud and shared them with federal investigators, prompting the subsequent criminal actions against his family members.
Tony Luke contends that he did nothing of the sort, and he maintains that the portrayal in the Inquirer has severely tarnished his reputation, exposing him to public scorn and threats.
The article in question first appeared online at 6:00 p.m. on January 25, 2024, and later underwent an update at 6:27 p.m., though the specifics of the update remain unclear as no editor’s note was provided.
The New Jersey media outlet NJ.com echoed the Inquirer’s claims about Tony Luke’s involvement in the investigation detailed in its own article, prompting Tony Luke to reach out for clarification.
In response, NJ.com amended its piece and added an editor’s note explaining that the original story misrepresented the facts surrounding Tony Luke’s departure from the business.
The current iteration of the Inquirer article states that Tony Luke’s sons, who were employed at the family business, also left with financial records and provided them to the authorities.
Despite multiple requests for access to the original article as it first appeared, Tony Luke claims the Inquirer has not provided him with the information he seeks.
The fallout from the Inquirer’s article has reportedly been severe for Tony Luke, who alleges that he has endured death threats and has been subjected to a barrage of derogatory comments on social media labeling him a ‘rat.’
This labeling has been further amplified by former Philadelphia mobster Joey Merlino, who publicly denounced Tony Luke on a podcast, framing him as a ‘motherfucker’ responsible for putting his father and brother behind bars.
Accompanying this online attack was a photoshopped image of Tony Luke resembling a rat, which added to the distress Tony Luke has reported experiencing.
As a result of these events, the lawsuit accuses both the Philadelphia Inquirer and the reporter Jeremy Roebuck of defamation, seeking unspecified damages for the alleged harm to his reputation.
Tony Luke’s legal representative has not commented on the matter, and the Inquirer has not made any public statements regarding the lawsuit.
The case once again highlights the implications of media reporting and the potential consequences that can arise from inaccuracies in journalism, particularly when they concern personal reputations and family legacies.
image source from：phillymag
