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24 not-guilty pleas in $60 million New Jersey sports-gambling ring
By KITTY CAPARELLA
Philadelphia Daily News
[email protected] 215-854-5880
Within minutes, a New Jersey judge yesterday said what he thought of the 24 defendants, charged in a $60 million illegal sports-gambling ring in the high-stakes poker room inside the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
"I don't look at these kind of cases" like sexual assault or murder, in which he would "put away people away from society," said Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio in a hearing at Atlantic County Courthouse in Mays Landing, N.J.
"These are alleged crimes of greed," he said before looking at any evidence. He said he planned to "take back that money by way of fines."
Then, he told both sides he did not want "dog and pony shows," or lawyers "running up fees and time."
So much for Operation High Roller, a 20-month state investigation involving 14 agencies that took down one of the most brazen illegal gambling rings in Atlantic County, Philadelphia and Maryland.
"Wait till he sees the evidence," quipped an investigator.
The 24 defendants, including 13 from Philadelphia, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On April 10, the defendants, ages 21 to 63, were indicted on state charges of racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, promoting gambling and/or related offenses.
This case is notable for Philadelphia mob watchers: It's a veritable list of rising stars in the mob and of illegal sports books, with some defendants allegedly operating in both venues.
According to authorities, there's reputed mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo and at least four mob associates: Steven "Stevie Gongs" Casasanto, William DePena, Domenic Grande and Vincent Procopio.
There's also unusual relationships between some defendants: a suspected hit man (Nicodemo) and the victim's brother (Casasanto), two reputed major bookmakers in Philadelphia (Procopio) and South Jersey (Jack Buscemi Jr.), two nephews of a mob soldier killed outside the Melrose Diner during the 1993 mob war (brothers Frank and Joseph Baldino).
The alleged boss of the gambling ring, Buscemi Jr., 50, of Mullica Hill, N.J., is a close pal of mob consigliere Gaeton Lucibello, according to an affidavit in the case.
Buscemi's No. 2 guy, Andrew Micali, 32, of Ventnor, N.J., allegedly controlled the day-to-day operations inside the Borgata's poker room, the indictment charged.
Micali was allegedly captured on Borgata's overhead cameras taking bets from an undercover officer and paying off bets after he obtained $5,000 from his poker safe-deposit box, the affidavit said.
Micali was a member of the 10th and Oregon Streets gang, until he had a dispute with onetime leaders Johnny Garbarino and Eugene "Genie Boy" Miller, according to law enforcement and knowledgable gambling sources.
Then, Micali allegedly set up his own illegal sports-gambling book, becoming what is known in mob circles as a "good earner," the sources said. From there, he went big time in Atlantic City.
Not only does jailed mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino write to Micali, but so does Phillip Narducci, 45, a jailed reputed soldier with the Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo family, said a source close to the investigation.
Micali called on an old Merlino pal, Nicodemo, 36, for muscle with recalcitrant bettors inside the gambling operation.
Nicodemo allegedly earned his "bones" - initiation into the mob - in connection with the Nov. 22, 2003, killing of mob associate John "Johnny Gongs" Casasanto - Steven Casasanto's brother, authorities said.
Steven Casasanto's alleged operation was based in Philadelphia, while Nicodemo was in Atlantic City.
"Stevie Gongs did nothing but bet on a lot of games, which may appear to be for other people, but they were all for him, said Casasanto's attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr.
Nicodemo's attorney, James Leonard, would not comment. Micali also tapped his mom, Marianne Micali, 63, of Philadelphia, and girlfriend, Annie Grajales Ospina, 25, of Egg Harbor, N.J., to help him. Both were charged in the case.The men are due in court July 7. *
By KITTY CAPARELLA
Philadelphia Daily News
[email protected] 215-854-5880
Within minutes, a New Jersey judge yesterday said what he thought of the 24 defendants, charged in a $60 million illegal sports-gambling ring in the high-stakes poker room inside the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
"I don't look at these kind of cases" like sexual assault or murder, in which he would "put away people away from society," said Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio in a hearing at Atlantic County Courthouse in Mays Landing, N.J.
"These are alleged crimes of greed," he said before looking at any evidence. He said he planned to "take back that money by way of fines."
Then, he told both sides he did not want "dog and pony shows," or lawyers "running up fees and time."
So much for Operation High Roller, a 20-month state investigation involving 14 agencies that took down one of the most brazen illegal gambling rings in Atlantic County, Philadelphia and Maryland.
"Wait till he sees the evidence," quipped an investigator.
The 24 defendants, including 13 from Philadelphia, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On April 10, the defendants, ages 21 to 63, were indicted on state charges of racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering, promoting gambling and/or related offenses.
This case is notable for Philadelphia mob watchers: It's a veritable list of rising stars in the mob and of illegal sports books, with some defendants allegedly operating in both venues.
According to authorities, there's reputed mob soldier Anthony Nicodemo and at least four mob associates: Steven "Stevie Gongs" Casasanto, William DePena, Domenic Grande and Vincent Procopio.
There's also unusual relationships between some defendants: a suspected hit man (Nicodemo) and the victim's brother (Casasanto), two reputed major bookmakers in Philadelphia (Procopio) and South Jersey (Jack Buscemi Jr.), two nephews of a mob soldier killed outside the Melrose Diner during the 1993 mob war (brothers Frank and Joseph Baldino).
The alleged boss of the gambling ring, Buscemi Jr., 50, of Mullica Hill, N.J., is a close pal of mob consigliere Gaeton Lucibello, according to an affidavit in the case.
Buscemi's No. 2 guy, Andrew Micali, 32, of Ventnor, N.J., allegedly controlled the day-to-day operations inside the Borgata's poker room, the indictment charged.
Micali was allegedly captured on Borgata's overhead cameras taking bets from an undercover officer and paying off bets after he obtained $5,000 from his poker safe-deposit box, the affidavit said.
Micali was a member of the 10th and Oregon Streets gang, until he had a dispute with onetime leaders Johnny Garbarino and Eugene "Genie Boy" Miller, according to law enforcement and knowledgable gambling sources.
Then, Micali allegedly set up his own illegal sports-gambling book, becoming what is known in mob circles as a "good earner," the sources said. From there, he went big time in Atlantic City.
Not only does jailed mob boss Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino write to Micali, but so does Phillip Narducci, 45, a jailed reputed soldier with the Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo family, said a source close to the investigation.
Micali called on an old Merlino pal, Nicodemo, 36, for muscle with recalcitrant bettors inside the gambling operation.
Nicodemo allegedly earned his "bones" - initiation into the mob - in connection with the Nov. 22, 2003, killing of mob associate John "Johnny Gongs" Casasanto - Steven Casasanto's brother, authorities said.
Steven Casasanto's alleged operation was based in Philadelphia, while Nicodemo was in Atlantic City.
"Stevie Gongs did nothing but bet on a lot of games, which may appear to be for other people, but they were all for him, said Casasanto's attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr.
Nicodemo's attorney, James Leonard, would not comment. Micali also tapped his mom, Marianne Micali, 63, of Philadelphia, and girlfriend, Annie Grajales Ospina, 25, of Egg Harbor, N.J., to help him. Both were charged in the case.The men are due in court July 7. *