lol, Northern Jersey is a gambling capital. Surprised they booked in a house in Jeresy. Most books cross the river to NYC where penalties are much less than in NJ. I know locals in NJ that change houses every other week not to be busted. JEREY are pricks when it comes to penalties in gambling cases.
JOINT INVESTIGATION TOPPLES INTERNATIONAL,
HALF BILLION DOLLAR, ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPERATING
IN MONMOUTH COUNTY AND ELSEWHERE
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin and New Jersey State Police
Superintendent Colonel Rick Fuentes announced the arrests of dozens of individuals relating to
their involvement in an international, half-billion dollar, illegal sports betting and racketeering
enterprise.
Following a comprehensive investigation more than 300 local, County, State and Federal
law enforcement agents and officers spread out across the State this morning to effect the arrests
of 58 members of the organization. The 16 month investigation has revealed that members of
the criminal enterprise were responsible for running a sports gambling operation that served
hundreds of bettors throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
The enterprise’s organizational structure included, among others, managers, agents and
individual bettors. Managers, Principals and/or Controllers are individuals who are primarily
responsible for overseeing the gambling activities of the “Agents” in the illegal gambling
enterprise. Agents are individuals who are primarily responsible for overseeing the gambling
activities of a group of bettors, commonly referred to as the “package.” At various times, Agents
also used “sub-agents” or “runners” to further the gambling activities.
The enterprise used various means to effectuate their operation including using Internet
sites which were specifically designed to allow bettors to place wagers by logging on with a
username and password. The Internet sites were managed by individuals in the organization’s
overseas “wireroom” in Costa Rica. The wireroom is a location where wagers are accepted in an
illegal gambling operation. Employees of the criminal enterprise would also accept wagers from
bettors who could call them using toll free telephone numbers.
The top managers of the operation also used other Internet sites to keep track of the total
amount of money that bettors owed the respective Managers. In addition, Agents in New Jersey
physically collected money from bettors on behalf of the illegal gambling enterprise. The
investigation revealed that bettors paid for their individual losses by various means, including
electronic transfers of large amounts of money to overseas accounts controlled by the enterprise.
The investigation further revealed that the organization handled a staggering amount of money
2
derived from the illegal gambling activities. For example, between in or about August, 2005
through February, 2007, bettors placed over $500,000,000 worth of wagers and lost over
$35,000,000 (or 7% of the total waged) to the illegal enterprise.
Among the members of the organization who were arrested today, were individuals who
were directly involved in the collection of the millions of dollars in lost wagers and the
laundering of those illicit proceeds on behalf of the criminal enterprise. The enterprise further
utilized sophisticated money laundering methods to conceal the illicit source of the proceeds of
their criminal acts. The investigation has further revealed that the enterprise used a portion of
the illicit funds in furtherance of criminal activity, in this case, the promotion of illegal
gambling.
Several principals in the organization arrested today on State racketeering and money
laundering charges were Joseph Pasquale, 51, of Mantoloking, Ocean County, New Jersey,
Richard Crossan, 48, of Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey, and Ralph Santoro, 52, of
Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey, who were partners in the management of the overall
operation.
Forty-seven targets were arrested today, while warrants have been filed against 12 others
who remain at large. (See Attachment A). The enforcement operation, which included over 70
locations, was executed without incident.
More than forty (40) search warrants and thirty (30) orders to restrain and freeze the
financial assets of the illicit enterprise were executed today in furtherance of the criminal
investigation and in an effort to seize assets that represent the proceeds of criminal activities. As
a result, over $2,000,000 in cash was seized including over 1.5 million in one residence during
the execution of the search warrants, and in excess of $300,000 seized by freezing numerous
bank accounts. Also seized were 14 vehicles, one 28 foot Thunderbird Yacht Model 280S
luxury boat, “Risky Business,” owned by Joseph Pasquale and worth approximately $ 130,000.
A forfeiture order was placed on a bay-front estate owned by Joseph and Carol Pasquale in
Mantoloking, New Jersey, worth several millions of dollars.
The operation was a joint venture spearheaded by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's
Office Intelligence Bureau-Organized Crime Unit (established in January 2006) and the New
Jersey State Police Central Organized Crime Unit aimed at investigating organized criminal
enterprises operating in Monmouth County and throughout our State. Critical assistance was
provided throughout the investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Howell
Police Department, the Wall Police Department, the Ocean Township Police Department, the
Manalapan Police Department, the Bayonne Police Department and the United States Internal
Revenue Service. Additionally, law enforcement personnel from the Tinton Falls Police
Department, Freehold Township Police Department, Matawan Police Department, Ocean Port
Police Department, West Long Branch Police Department, Monmouth County Emergency
Response Team (“M.O.C.E.R.T.”), Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department, N.Y/N.J. Port
Authority Police Department, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s
Office, New Jersey Parole Office, United States Marshals New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task
Force, New York County District Attorney’s Office and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
participated in today's raids, representing a unified effort to combat the illegal enterprise.
3
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin stated “the cooperation between and
among law enforcement agencies was paramount to the success in dismantling this criminal
organization. This investigation represents the best efforts of county, state, federal, and local law
enforcement working together for one goal, dismantling an organization designed to make
money for those who wish to live outside the bounds of the law." Prosecutor Valentin further
stated "we are committed to using all legal remedies, including asset forfeiture, to ensure that
individuals who violate the law do not profit from their criminal conduct.”
"Illegal gambling is a quality of life crime that may seem harmless, but is often
perpetrated by organized, and sometimes violent, criminal enterprises," said Lt. Colonel Gayle
Cameron, Deputy Superintendent of Investigations for the New Jersey State Police. "This
racketeering operation had no government oversight and paid no taxes. It took from society
without returning anything."
The complaints charge the top three defendants and managers, Joseph Pasquale, Richard
Crossan and Ralph Santoro with:
Financial facilitation of criminal activity, a first degree crime, (commonly referred to
as “money laundering”) which carries a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years of
imprisonment and a $200,000 fine, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25.
(A Superior Court judge has set the bail for these individuals at $1,000,000.)
All of the other defendants are charged with:
Conspiracy to commit financial facilitation of criminal activity, a second degree
crime, which carries a maximum penalty of ten (10) years of imprisonment and a
$150,000 fine, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2.
All defendants are additionally charged with:
Racketeering, as a second degree crime, which carries a maximum ten (10) years of
imprisonment and $150,000 fine, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:41-1 and 2C41-3;
Promoting gambling, as a third degree crime, which carries a maximum five (5) years of
imprisonment and $35,000 fine, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:37-2.; and
Conspiracy, as a second degree, which carries a maximum (N.J.S.A. 2C-5-2), maximum
ten (10) years of imprisonment and $150,000 fine,
(A Superior Court judge has set the bail for these individuals at $100,000.)
Assistant Prosecutors James E. Jones, Jr. and Christopher D. Mathews of the
Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office are assigned this case.
4
The investigation continues and anyone with information regarding this organization, its
members, or any of the individuals arrested today or being sought by police are encouraged to
call Lt. James Scully of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 732/577-8700 or 1-800-
533-7443 or Detective Sergeant First Class Walter Kavanuagh of the New Jersey State Police at
732/431-3610.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial
rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and state law.
Released: March 28, 2007
5
ATTACHMENT A
Arrest Warrants were executed for the following Monmouth County residents who were all
arrested today:
1) Richard Neale Sr., age 52, of West Long Branch.
2) Chester Zdunek, age 77, of Colts Neck.
3) Joseph Mariconda, age 59, of Freehold.
4) Kenneth Murphy, age 81, of Oceanport.
5) Mike Demetropoulis, age 84, of Matawan.
6) Robert A. Carpenito, age 41, of Tinton Falls.
7) Tyler Case, age 39, of Morganville.
8) John Squeo, age 68, of Oakhurst.
9) Stephen Cirillo, age 50, of Colts Neck.
10) Curtis Reilly, age 43, of Colts Neck.
11) Charles Pantiliano, age 64, of Howell.
Arrest warrants were also executed for the following individuals outside Monmouth County.
The following individuals were arrested today.
12) Anthony Sylvander, age 38, of Rutherford, Bergen County.
13) Alejandra Avalos, age 33, of North Bergen, Hudson County.
14) Richard Crossan, age 48, of Hillsborough, Somerset County. (1 million)
15) Thomas Floriani, age 61, of Beach Haven, Ocean County.
16) Anthony Rega, age 59, of Carlstadt, New York.
17) Aram Ozkuyumcu, age 43, of Fort Lee, Bergen County.
18) Christopher Burris, age 33, of Bayville, Ocean County.
19) David Samson, age 43, of Fort Lee, Bergen County.
20) James Monaco, Jr., age 30, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
21) Alfio Carbonetto, age 46, of Toms River, Ocean County.
22) Angelo Cascetta, age 52, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
23) Jude Pantiliano, age 32, of Brick, Ocean County.
24) Louis Aligo, age 60, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
25) Philip Falco, age 47, of Wallington, Bergen County.
6
26) Carol Pasquale, age 56, of Brick, Ocean County.
27) John Bussi, age 47, of New Milford, Bergen County.
28) Robert Pizzutti Jr., age 46, of Succasunna, Morris County.
29) Salvatore Musumeci, age 45, of Mahwah, Bergen County.
30) Edward Goyden, age 36, of Beach Haven, Ocean County.
31) James Ciancia, age 69, of Paterson, Passaic County.
32) Joseph Casseta, age 42, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
33) Joseph Ferrante Jr., age 28, of Secaucus, Hudson County.
34) Joseph Ferrante, Sr., age 57, of Secaucus, Hudson County.
35) Paris Branda, age 38, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
36) Peter Appolito, age 50 of Verona, Essex County.
37) William Hildebrant, age 56, of Califon, Hunterdon County.
38) Thomas Dirusso, age 61, of Monroe, Middlesex County.
39) Frank Ciaramella, age 47, of Sparta, Sussex County.
40) Louis Dalesandro, age 45, of Cedar Grove, Essex County.
41) Ron Kurzweil, age 48, of West Orange, Essex County.
42) Charles Winters, age 67, of Toms River, Ocean County.
43) Joseph Pasquale, age 50, of Brick, Ocean County. (1 million)
44) John Gordnick, age 49, of Rochelle Park, Bergen County.
45) Marco Sciarra, age 75, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
46) Ralph Santoro, age 52, of Bridgewater, Somerset County. (1 million)
47) Richard Balletto, age 71, of Hasbrouck Heights, Bergen County.
Bail has been set for all defendants in the amount of $100,000 cash, except as noted above.
HALF BILLION DOLLAR, ILLEGAL GAMBLING OPERATING
IN MONMOUTH COUNTY AND ELSEWHERE
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin and New Jersey State Police
Superintendent Colonel Rick Fuentes announced the arrests of dozens of individuals relating to
their involvement in an international, half-billion dollar, illegal sports betting and racketeering
enterprise.
Following a comprehensive investigation more than 300 local, County, State and Federal
law enforcement agents and officers spread out across the State this morning to effect the arrests
of 58 members of the organization. The 16 month investigation has revealed that members of
the criminal enterprise were responsible for running a sports gambling operation that served
hundreds of bettors throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
The enterprise’s organizational structure included, among others, managers, agents and
individual bettors. Managers, Principals and/or Controllers are individuals who are primarily
responsible for overseeing the gambling activities of the “Agents” in the illegal gambling
enterprise. Agents are individuals who are primarily responsible for overseeing the gambling
activities of a group of bettors, commonly referred to as the “package.” At various times, Agents
also used “sub-agents” or “runners” to further the gambling activities.
The enterprise used various means to effectuate their operation including using Internet
sites which were specifically designed to allow bettors to place wagers by logging on with a
username and password. The Internet sites were managed by individuals in the organization’s
overseas “wireroom” in Costa Rica. The wireroom is a location where wagers are accepted in an
illegal gambling operation. Employees of the criminal enterprise would also accept wagers from
bettors who could call them using toll free telephone numbers.
The top managers of the operation also used other Internet sites to keep track of the total
amount of money that bettors owed the respective Managers. In addition, Agents in New Jersey
physically collected money from bettors on behalf of the illegal gambling enterprise. The
investigation revealed that bettors paid for their individual losses by various means, including
electronic transfers of large amounts of money to overseas accounts controlled by the enterprise.
The investigation further revealed that the organization handled a staggering amount of money
2
derived from the illegal gambling activities. For example, between in or about August, 2005
through February, 2007, bettors placed over $500,000,000 worth of wagers and lost over
$35,000,000 (or 7% of the total waged) to the illegal enterprise.
Among the members of the organization who were arrested today, were individuals who
were directly involved in the collection of the millions of dollars in lost wagers and the
laundering of those illicit proceeds on behalf of the criminal enterprise. The enterprise further
utilized sophisticated money laundering methods to conceal the illicit source of the proceeds of
their criminal acts. The investigation has further revealed that the enterprise used a portion of
the illicit funds in furtherance of criminal activity, in this case, the promotion of illegal
gambling.
Several principals in the organization arrested today on State racketeering and money
laundering charges were Joseph Pasquale, 51, of Mantoloking, Ocean County, New Jersey,
Richard Crossan, 48, of Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey, and Ralph Santoro, 52, of
Bridgewater, Somerset County, New Jersey, who were partners in the management of the overall
operation.
Forty-seven targets were arrested today, while warrants have been filed against 12 others
who remain at large. (See Attachment A). The enforcement operation, which included over 70
locations, was executed without incident.
More than forty (40) search warrants and thirty (30) orders to restrain and freeze the
financial assets of the illicit enterprise were executed today in furtherance of the criminal
investigation and in an effort to seize assets that represent the proceeds of criminal activities. As
a result, over $2,000,000 in cash was seized including over 1.5 million in one residence during
the execution of the search warrants, and in excess of $300,000 seized by freezing numerous
bank accounts. Also seized were 14 vehicles, one 28 foot Thunderbird Yacht Model 280S
luxury boat, “Risky Business,” owned by Joseph Pasquale and worth approximately $ 130,000.
A forfeiture order was placed on a bay-front estate owned by Joseph and Carol Pasquale in
Mantoloking, New Jersey, worth several millions of dollars.
The operation was a joint venture spearheaded by the Monmouth County Prosecutor's
Office Intelligence Bureau-Organized Crime Unit (established in January 2006) and the New
Jersey State Police Central Organized Crime Unit aimed at investigating organized criminal
enterprises operating in Monmouth County and throughout our State. Critical assistance was
provided throughout the investigation by the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office, the Howell
Police Department, the Wall Police Department, the Ocean Township Police Department, the
Manalapan Police Department, the Bayonne Police Department and the United States Internal
Revenue Service. Additionally, law enforcement personnel from the Tinton Falls Police
Department, Freehold Township Police Department, Matawan Police Department, Ocean Port
Police Department, West Long Branch Police Department, Monmouth County Emergency
Response Team (“M.O.C.E.R.T.”), Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department, N.Y/N.J. Port
Authority Police Department, Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Prosecutor’s
Office, New Jersey Parole Office, United States Marshals New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task
Force, New York County District Attorney’s Office and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office
participated in today's raids, representing a unified effort to combat the illegal enterprise.
3
Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis A. Valentin stated “the cooperation between and
among law enforcement agencies was paramount to the success in dismantling this criminal
organization. This investigation represents the best efforts of county, state, federal, and local law
enforcement working together for one goal, dismantling an organization designed to make
money for those who wish to live outside the bounds of the law." Prosecutor Valentin further
stated "we are committed to using all legal remedies, including asset forfeiture, to ensure that
individuals who violate the law do not profit from their criminal conduct.”
"Illegal gambling is a quality of life crime that may seem harmless, but is often
perpetrated by organized, and sometimes violent, criminal enterprises," said Lt. Colonel Gayle
Cameron, Deputy Superintendent of Investigations for the New Jersey State Police. "This
racketeering operation had no government oversight and paid no taxes. It took from society
without returning anything."
The complaints charge the top three defendants and managers, Joseph Pasquale, Richard
Crossan and Ralph Santoro with:
Financial facilitation of criminal activity, a first degree crime, (commonly referred to
as “money laundering”) which carries a maximum penalty of twenty (20) years of
imprisonment and a $200,000 fine, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25.
(A Superior Court judge has set the bail for these individuals at $1,000,000.)
All of the other defendants are charged with:
Conspiracy to commit financial facilitation of criminal activity, a second degree
crime, which carries a maximum penalty of ten (10) years of imprisonment and a
$150,000 fine, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2.
All defendants are additionally charged with:
Racketeering, as a second degree crime, which carries a maximum ten (10) years of
imprisonment and $150,000 fine, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:41-1 and 2C41-3;
Promoting gambling, as a third degree crime, which carries a maximum five (5) years of
imprisonment and $35,000 fine, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:37-2.; and
Conspiracy, as a second degree, which carries a maximum (N.J.S.A. 2C-5-2), maximum
ten (10) years of imprisonment and $150,000 fine,
(A Superior Court judge has set the bail for these individuals at $100,000.)
Assistant Prosecutors James E. Jones, Jr. and Christopher D. Mathews of the
Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office are assigned this case.
4
The investigation continues and anyone with information regarding this organization, its
members, or any of the individuals arrested today or being sought by police are encouraged to
call Lt. James Scully of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office at 732/577-8700 or 1-800-
533-7443 or Detective Sergeant First Class Walter Kavanuagh of the New Jersey State Police at
732/431-3610.
Despite these charges, every defendant is presumed innocent, unless and until found
guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, following a trial at which the defendant has all of the trial
rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and state law.
Released: March 28, 2007
5
ATTACHMENT A
Arrest Warrants were executed for the following Monmouth County residents who were all
arrested today:
1) Richard Neale Sr., age 52, of West Long Branch.
2) Chester Zdunek, age 77, of Colts Neck.
3) Joseph Mariconda, age 59, of Freehold.
4) Kenneth Murphy, age 81, of Oceanport.
5) Mike Demetropoulis, age 84, of Matawan.
6) Robert A. Carpenito, age 41, of Tinton Falls.
7) Tyler Case, age 39, of Morganville.
8) John Squeo, age 68, of Oakhurst.
9) Stephen Cirillo, age 50, of Colts Neck.
10) Curtis Reilly, age 43, of Colts Neck.
11) Charles Pantiliano, age 64, of Howell.
Arrest warrants were also executed for the following individuals outside Monmouth County.
The following individuals were arrested today.
12) Anthony Sylvander, age 38, of Rutherford, Bergen County.
13) Alejandra Avalos, age 33, of North Bergen, Hudson County.
14) Richard Crossan, age 48, of Hillsborough, Somerset County. (1 million)
15) Thomas Floriani, age 61, of Beach Haven, Ocean County.
16) Anthony Rega, age 59, of Carlstadt, New York.
17) Aram Ozkuyumcu, age 43, of Fort Lee, Bergen County.
18) Christopher Burris, age 33, of Bayville, Ocean County.
19) David Samson, age 43, of Fort Lee, Bergen County.
20) James Monaco, Jr., age 30, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
21) Alfio Carbonetto, age 46, of Toms River, Ocean County.
22) Angelo Cascetta, age 52, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
23) Jude Pantiliano, age 32, of Brick, Ocean County.
24) Louis Aligo, age 60, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
25) Philip Falco, age 47, of Wallington, Bergen County.
6
26) Carol Pasquale, age 56, of Brick, Ocean County.
27) John Bussi, age 47, of New Milford, Bergen County.
28) Robert Pizzutti Jr., age 46, of Succasunna, Morris County.
29) Salvatore Musumeci, age 45, of Mahwah, Bergen County.
30) Edward Goyden, age 36, of Beach Haven, Ocean County.
31) James Ciancia, age 69, of Paterson, Passaic County.
32) Joseph Casseta, age 42, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
33) Joseph Ferrante Jr., age 28, of Secaucus, Hudson County.
34) Joseph Ferrante, Sr., age 57, of Secaucus, Hudson County.
35) Paris Branda, age 38, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
36) Peter Appolito, age 50 of Verona, Essex County.
37) William Hildebrant, age 56, of Califon, Hunterdon County.
38) Thomas Dirusso, age 61, of Monroe, Middlesex County.
39) Frank Ciaramella, age 47, of Sparta, Sussex County.
40) Louis Dalesandro, age 45, of Cedar Grove, Essex County.
41) Ron Kurzweil, age 48, of West Orange, Essex County.
42) Charles Winters, age 67, of Toms River, Ocean County.
43) Joseph Pasquale, age 50, of Brick, Ocean County. (1 million)
44) John Gordnick, age 49, of Rochelle Park, Bergen County.
45) Marco Sciarra, age 75, of Hoboken, Hudson County.
46) Ralph Santoro, age 52, of Bridgewater, Somerset County. (1 million)
47) Richard Balletto, age 71, of Hasbrouck Heights, Bergen County.
Bail has been set for all defendants in the amount of $100,000 cash, except as noted above.
17 individuals were rounded up overnight and early this morning in connection with what law enforcement officials are calling a $30 million online gambling ring that dealt almost exclusively in sports betting. Among those arrested were two former New York City police officer, an ex-Merrill broker and secretarial coordinator Atlanta-based King & Spalding's New York law firm . A former Merrill Lynch & Co. broker was arrested on state gambling charges in New York, postponing his federal trial for selling access to trading information broadcast over his firm's office intercom.
Timothy O'Connell, 42, of Carle Place, New York, was one of 17 people charged this morning in connection with an alleged $30- million online sports gambling ring, Kevin Ryan, a spokesman for the Queens District Attorney, told Bloomberg this morning.
``He was a runner,'' said Ryan. ``He was responsible for soliciting new bettors to the operation, maintaining the relationship with bettors and meeting with bettors to collect gambling losses and pay out winnings.''
O'Connell is one of seven defendants on trial for conspiring to trade on information broadcast over internal ``squawk boxes'' at top Wall Street firms.
Also arrested this morning were gambling ringleader, John Kinahan, 56, a former New York City police officer who served prison time for protecting drug dealers, according to Ryan. Kinahan works as a manager at City Scapes, a topless club in Queens, one of two sites where the ring was based, Ryan said. It also operated out of a Queens restaurant, he said.
The gambling ring employed the services of 50KSports.com based in Costa Rica. The arrests has major implications for offshore sports betting operations dealing with agents.
Sources close to Gambling911.com first informed us of the impending arrests last night. Today we were told that this is going to expand into a much larger investigation.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said our source.
Kinahan's wife, Virginia, 56, is charged in the indictment as the bookkeeper and day-to-day manager of the operation. She's listed as the owner of City Scapes.
Ms. Kinahan is also a Secretarial Coordinator for the law office of King & Spalding in New York City where she supervises secretaries on one entire floor. She is known to have been working at the firm this Monday and has been employed with King & Spalding since 2004.
[FONT='Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=2][FONT='Verdana']Philip Buckles, 59, a former New York police detective in the Organized Crime division, was also named in the indictment.
Other alleged runners charged in the case include a U.S. postal worker who placed bets for bosses at a New York City post office and a city sanitation worker, according to Ryan.
The ring accepted wagers on a broad range of professional sporting events including horse-racing, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf and tennis, Brown said in the statement. [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
The New York State Police has also been working this case. [FONT='Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=2][FONT='Verdana']
The 17 defendants conspired to run the illegal gambling operation from May 1, 2006 until March 22, 2007, according to the indictment.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
"When it comes to Internet sports gambling rings operating in Queens County, all bets are off," Brown said. "My office has zero tolerance for such illegal activity."
Using court-authorized electronic eavesdropping, investigators in the case intercepted nearly 50,000 conversations from six different telephones, Brown said.
While the case involves web gambling, the matter centers more on credit betting and utilization of agents/runners within the United States.
In another major case from late last year, James Giordano and over a dozen other individuals were arrested for allegedly running an illegal online gambling enterprise, most of which was operated within the United States.
Defendants in this case are "squawking like canaries on crack" a source told Gambling911.com, and they all appear to be implicating a major online gambling website that no longer takes bets within the United States.
Timothy O'Connell, 42, of Carle Place, New York, was one of 17 people charged this morning in connection with an alleged $30- million online sports gambling ring, Kevin Ryan, a spokesman for the Queens District Attorney, told Bloomberg this morning.
``He was a runner,'' said Ryan. ``He was responsible for soliciting new bettors to the operation, maintaining the relationship with bettors and meeting with bettors to collect gambling losses and pay out winnings.''
O'Connell is one of seven defendants on trial for conspiring to trade on information broadcast over internal ``squawk boxes'' at top Wall Street firms.
Also arrested this morning were gambling ringleader, John Kinahan, 56, a former New York City police officer who served prison time for protecting drug dealers, according to Ryan. Kinahan works as a manager at City Scapes, a topless club in Queens, one of two sites where the ring was based, Ryan said. It also operated out of a Queens restaurant, he said.
The gambling ring employed the services of 50KSports.com based in Costa Rica. The arrests has major implications for offshore sports betting operations dealing with agents.
Sources close to Gambling911.com first informed us of the impending arrests last night. Today we were told that this is going to expand into a much larger investigation.
"This is just the tip of the iceberg," said our source.
Kinahan's wife, Virginia, 56, is charged in the indictment as the bookkeeper and day-to-day manager of the operation. She's listed as the owner of City Scapes.
Ms. Kinahan is also a Secretarial Coordinator for the law office of King & Spalding in New York City where she supervises secretaries on one entire floor. She is known to have been working at the firm this Monday and has been employed with King & Spalding since 2004.
[FONT='Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=2][FONT='Verdana']Philip Buckles, 59, a former New York police detective in the Organized Crime division, was also named in the indictment.
Other alleged runners charged in the case include a U.S. postal worker who placed bets for bosses at a New York City post office and a city sanitation worker, according to Ryan.
The ring accepted wagers on a broad range of professional sporting events including horse-racing, football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf and tennis, Brown said in the statement. [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
The New York State Police has also been working this case. [FONT='Trebuchet MS',Verdana,Helvetica,sans-serif][SIZE=2][FONT='Verdana']
The 17 defendants conspired to run the illegal gambling operation from May 1, 2006 until March 22, 2007, according to the indictment.[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]
"When it comes to Internet sports gambling rings operating in Queens County, all bets are off," Brown said. "My office has zero tolerance for such illegal activity."
Using court-authorized electronic eavesdropping, investigators in the case intercepted nearly 50,000 conversations from six different telephones, Brown said.
While the case involves web gambling, the matter centers more on credit betting and utilization of agents/runners within the United States.
In another major case from late last year, James Giordano and over a dozen other individuals were arrested for allegedly running an illegal online gambling enterprise, most of which was operated within the United States.
Defendants in this case are "squawking like canaries on crack" a source told Gambling911.com, and they all appear to be implicating a major online gambling website that no longer takes bets within the United States.
Bad info. I've been in Jersey a dozen times over the past 8 years, there ain't no sports betting in AC. Unless you want to count horses - some of the joints have simulcast centers.
Ex NBA-star and senator., one Bill Bradley, was resposible for barring all sports betting in the US, except a few state (nev, ore) whre it was grandfathered in. Jersey had a one year window, let it close, and now, a relative resident there is telling me they regret doing so, now that all surrounding states are opening casinos.
There was a front page article last year in the Newark Star Ledger that they were thinking of getting legalized sports betting down in AC. I have not heard anything this year regarding it. Obviously, this would take many years for it to happen. With all these arrests with local bookies and such I don't understand why it can't happen. Too much politics I guess.
N.J. Lawmakers Consider Legalizing Sports Betting
(CBS/AP) TRENTON, N.J. New Jersey is home to plenty of slot machines, Roulette wheels, blackjack tables and poker hands, but its gambling mecca, Atlantic City, lacks one attraction rival Las Vegas can boast -- legalized sports betting.
And with the Super Bowl as a backdrop, a state senator is renewing efforts to bring legalized sports betting to the Garden State.
However, odds may be slim that gamblers one day will be able to go to Atlantic City and lay money down on a Super Bowl or any professional sporting event.
Federal law restricts legalized sports betting to Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. But Sen. Raymond Lesniak said Friday that he was willing to gamble that sports betting will come to New Jersey sooner rather than later.
"With the biggest sporting event of the year taking place this weekend, it's naive to think that sports betting isn't taking place right now in the Garden State," said Lesniak, D-Union County. "But because of an act of Congress, we've surrendered sports betting to organized crime, offshore casinos and Las Vegas. Why should millions of dollars go to Las Vegas, offshore casinos and the mob?"
Lesniak plans to introduce a bill that would ask New Jersey voters whether professional sports betting should be allowed in the Garden State and to call on Congress to rescind the federal law restricting sports betting.
He's not the first New Jersey lawmaker to propose the move.
Assemblymen Lou Greenwald, D-Camden, and Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, have pushed similar legislation for years, but it's never received a full Assembly vote. Bills also passed the Senate in 1992 and 1993 that would have paved the way for sports betting in New Jersey, but they never passed the Assembly.
"It's not possible unless they change the federal law," said Republican Sen. Bill Gormley, whose district includes Atlantic City. "Sure, I'd like to see it, but what I don't like doing is offering people false hope."
The NFL and NBA have rallied against talk of legalized sports betting in New Jersey.
NFL attorney Jay Moyer was not immediately available for comment Friday, but he previously told New Jersey officials that legal sports betting in the state would "create a pervasive climate of suspicion about any controversial play in a game."
"It would send two very bad messages," Moyer said. "One is that anything goes when it comes to raising revenues and, two, that gambling and sports are natural partners."
Lesniak challenged such reasoning.
"These sports organizations turn their backs on steroid scandals and thug behavior from players because it puts fans in the seats," Lesniak said. "It's hypocritical to say we need to ban sports betting to protect the integrity of the sport when the owners are tacitly endorsing so much worse."
Lesniak, an attorney, also questioned whether federal law gives Las Vegas casinos an unfair advantage, making it vulnerable to a legal challenge through anti-monopoly laws.
Proponents of sports betting in New Jersey estimate the state might bring in up to $8 million in additional annual casino tax revenue through sports betting, plus boost the number of visitors to Atlantic City casinos.
(CBS/AP) TRENTON, N.J. New Jersey is home to plenty of slot machines, Roulette wheels, blackjack tables and poker hands, but its gambling mecca, Atlantic City, lacks one attraction rival Las Vegas can boast -- legalized sports betting.
And with the Super Bowl as a backdrop, a state senator is renewing efforts to bring legalized sports betting to the Garden State.
However, odds may be slim that gamblers one day will be able to go to Atlantic City and lay money down on a Super Bowl or any professional sporting event.
Federal law restricts legalized sports betting to Delaware, Montana, Nevada and Oregon. But Sen. Raymond Lesniak said Friday that he was willing to gamble that sports betting will come to New Jersey sooner rather than later.
"With the biggest sporting event of the year taking place this weekend, it's naive to think that sports betting isn't taking place right now in the Garden State," said Lesniak, D-Union County. "But because of an act of Congress, we've surrendered sports betting to organized crime, offshore casinos and Las Vegas. Why should millions of dollars go to Las Vegas, offshore casinos and the mob?"
Lesniak plans to introduce a bill that would ask New Jersey voters whether professional sports betting should be allowed in the Garden State and to call on Congress to rescind the federal law restricting sports betting.
He's not the first New Jersey lawmaker to propose the move.
Assemblymen Lou Greenwald, D-Camden, and Jeff Van Drew, D-Cape May, have pushed similar legislation for years, but it's never received a full Assembly vote. Bills also passed the Senate in 1992 and 1993 that would have paved the way for sports betting in New Jersey, but they never passed the Assembly.
"It's not possible unless they change the federal law," said Republican Sen. Bill Gormley, whose district includes Atlantic City. "Sure, I'd like to see it, but what I don't like doing is offering people false hope."
The NFL and NBA have rallied against talk of legalized sports betting in New Jersey.
NFL attorney Jay Moyer was not immediately available for comment Friday, but he previously told New Jersey officials that legal sports betting in the state would "create a pervasive climate of suspicion about any controversial play in a game."
"It would send two very bad messages," Moyer said. "One is that anything goes when it comes to raising revenues and, two, that gambling and sports are natural partners."
Lesniak challenged such reasoning.
"These sports organizations turn their backs on steroid scandals and thug behavior from players because it puts fans in the seats," Lesniak said. "It's hypocritical to say we need to ban sports betting to protect the integrity of the sport when the owners are tacitly endorsing so much worse."
Lesniak, an attorney, also questioned whether federal law gives Las Vegas casinos an unfair advantage, making it vulnerable to a legal challenge through anti-monopoly laws.
Proponents of sports betting in New Jersey estimate the state might bring in up to $8 million in additional annual casino tax revenue through sports betting, plus boost the number of visitors to Atlantic City casinos.
Legalized betting in NJ will NEVER happen. Mob has strong hold on politicians in that state and that means losing money for them. Yes they will book but so will people not connected. Plus you can't bet on any team in the state gambling is legal. WAY too many colleges and pro teams in that state.
