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New Jersey prosecutors say 35 defendants have now pleaded guilty in a sweeping alleged organized crime gambling case tied to the Lucchese crime family, with investigators identifying nearly $4.8 million in suspected criminal proceeds.
According to the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General, the two-year investigation led to charges against 42 people tied to illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and money laundering. Prosecutors said the enterprise used both in-person poker clubs and offshore sportsbook websites.
Illegal poker clubs and offshore sportsbooks were both part of the case
Investigators said the operation included illegal poker clubs in Totowa, Garfield, Woodland Park, and Paterson. Prosecutors also alleged that agents and sub-agents ran online sports betting operations through websites based outside the United States.
In a statement on the latest pleas, Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said, “The guilty pleas we accepted today represent another important step in dismantling this criminal enterprise and holding the individuals involved accountable.”
Prosecutors said social clubs allegedly housed live poker games, gambling machines, and managers who collected “rent” from game operators. In describing the sportsbook side of the case, prosecutors said the websites allowed organized crime members and associates to use current technology to carry out traditional illegal gambling activity online.
Latest pleas include defendants, corporations, and recommended sentences
The attorney general’s office said eight additional defendants and three corporations admitted roles in the racketeering enterprise. The three corporations — Cafe Gio, Frasso Trucking, and CJW Development & Consulting — each agreed to pay $250,000 in penalties.
Among the defendants, prosecutors said George Zappola, Joseph R. Perna, and John G. Perna pleaded guilty to second-degree racketeering and face recommended seven-year prison terms. Wayne D. Cross pleaded guilty to third-degree promoting gambling and received a recommended five-year sentence.
Michael P. Frasso pleaded guilty to racketeering, failure to pay income tax, and corporate misconduct, with an aggregate recommended sentence of 15 years. Frank Imparato and Peter Norcia each pleaded guilty to gambling-related conspiracy charges and face recommended four-year sentences, while Joseph Gossweiler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to promote gambling in the third degree with 364 days probation recommended.
For bettors in New York and New Jersey, the case is another reminder that enforcement actions continue to target unregulated gambling operations, including offshore sportsbooks. Prosecutors said seven defendants still face pending charges, so the case is not yet fully resolved.
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Source: As reported by Sergio Bichao.
