Tomorrow at www.ganglandnews.com Jerry Capeci's column gets posted. Might be printed for this week already but we'll see. Maybe something will be said there.
But it does NOT involve a Costa Rican book, that was my point.
The site has already been named, www.50ksports.com, a website hosted by a company (not a sportsbook) that offers outsourced website hosting for sports gambling websites.
So yes, it is definiately immaterial to Costa Rican sportsbooks. If you still want to claim it is of material interest that the website was hosted in Costa Rica, whatever.
What was the last gambling ring bust that made the news? James Giordano, and www.PlayWithAl.com. What came of that?
Had no nexus to Costa Rica nor connection to any Costa Rican sportsbook, other than they happen to have switched their website hosting from Antigua to Costa Rica. The indictment against the hosting company was settled and dismissed.
This new bust looks like the exact same circumstances.
Why make such speculations? You think I don't know how to look up who is hosting their website??
Had no nexus to Costa Rica nor connection to any Costa Rican sportsbook, other than they happen to have switched their website hosting from Antigua to Costa Rica. The indictment against the hosting company was settled and dismissed.
This new bust looks like the exact same circumstances.
LOUIE M said:
Why make such speculations? You think I don't know how to look up who is hosting their website??
If you define booking as accepting and settle wagers (as in $), then no.
If you mean the PayPerHead shop may close; a) I doubt it, and b) I honestly wish PPH businesses would leave, busts like this -- and accompanying rumours -- tarnish the reputation of Costa Rica as a leading e-gaming jurisdiction, hosting reputable post-up businesses such as Poker Stars, Sportsbook.com, CRIS, etc.
fyi
Much of the gambling business was conducted throughout a wire room in Costa Rica. 50KSports.com was named in the New York complaint, which is due for publication shortly.
Gambling911.com had initially warned of the massive bust late Wednesday.
A massive New Jersey sweep resulted in 47 arrests. A New York bust resulted in the arrests of nearly 18 people. Others are being sought and more charges are expected.
"We have struck a powerful blow at the organizational level of an illegal gambling organization that has been reaping millions in illegal profits," Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin said.
He identified three ringleaders of the operation as Joseph Pasquale, 50, of Brick Township, Richard Crossan, 48, of Hillsborough in Somerset County, and Ralph Santoro, 52, of Bridgewater. All three were charged with money laundering, conspiracy, racketeering, and promoting gambling.
The three men are being held on $1 million bail and are due to make an initial court appearance on Thursday. It was not immediately clear if the three had hired lawyers.
In carrying out raids at 70 locations, authorities seized over $2 million in cash, froze numerous bank accounts, and seized 14 vehicles and a 28-foot yacht owned by Pasquale that was named "Risky Business."
More than a dozen others named in the New Jersey complaint remain at large.
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.
Arrested in the New Jersey investigation:
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.
The New York arrests included 17 individuals 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.
----
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com
Originally published March 28, 2007 5:19 pm ET
Much of the gambling business was conducted throughout a wire room in Costa Rica. 50KSports.com was named in the New York complaint, which is due for publication shortly.
Gambling911.com had initially warned of the massive bust late Wednesday.
A massive New Jersey sweep resulted in 47 arrests. A New York bust resulted in the arrests of nearly 18 people. Others are being sought and more charges are expected.
"We have struck a powerful blow at the organizational level of an illegal gambling organization that has been reaping millions in illegal profits," Monmouth County Prosecutor Luis Valentin said.
He identified three ringleaders of the operation as Joseph Pasquale, 50, of Brick Township, Richard Crossan, 48, of Hillsborough in Somerset County, and Ralph Santoro, 52, of Bridgewater. All three were charged with money laundering, conspiracy, racketeering, and promoting gambling.
The three men are being held on $1 million bail and are due to make an initial court appearance on Thursday. It was not immediately clear if the three had hired lawyers.
In carrying out raids at 70 locations, authorities seized over $2 million in cash, froze numerous bank accounts, and seized 14 vehicles and a 28-foot yacht owned by Pasquale that was named "Risky Business."
More than a dozen others named in the New Jersey complaint remain at large.
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.
Arrested in the New Jersey investigation:
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.
The New York arrests included 17 individuals 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.
----
Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com
Originally published March 28, 2007 5:19 pm ET
Yeah, arresting eight senior citizens and a bunch of middle-aged men are going to make the streets much safer.
Technology (read surviellance) may soon push the U.S. from being an annoying nanny state to an Orwellian police state. I wonder how many anti-terrorist provisions and powers were used in this investigation.
