Florham Park Man Guilty In Mob Gambling Scheme: NJ AG

FLORHAM PARK, NJ — Five men, including one from Florham Park, have pleaded guilty in connection to a gambling and money laundering scheme connected to the Genovese crime family, New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said.

The five men were charged, in varying combinations, in connection with a loan shark operation that netted $4.7 million in interest, a multi-million dollar offshore gambling ring, and unlicensed check cashing business that made $9 million and enabled money laundering, and tax fraud and evasion, Grewal said. All of the illegal operations went to fund "tribute" payments that went to those higher-up in the Genovese family chain of command.

"When those involved in traditional organized crime engage in schemes such as loansharking and illegal gambling, they profit at the expense of victims who are struggling with debt, gambling problems, and other issues," said Grewal. "By prosecuting the men who ran these schemes and putting key defendants behind bars, we send a message that we will not tolerate these corrosive criminal activities that harm individuals, families and society as a whole."

The following five men have pleaded guilty:

1. Domenick Pucillo, 61, of Florham Park, N.J., pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering. The state will recommend a sentence of 10 years in prison.
2. Robert Spagnola, 71, of Morganville, N.J., pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury. The state will recommend a sentence of five years in prison.
3. Vito Alberti, 60, of Morristown, N.J., pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury. The state will recommend a sentence of five years in prison.
4. Manuel Rodriguez, 53, of Chatham, N.J., pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering. The state will recommend a sentence of four years in prison.
5. Vincent Coppola, 42, of Union City, N.J., pleaded guilty to third-degree promoting gambling. The state will recommend a sentence of 180 days in jail and a term of probation.

All five will be sentenced on Sept. 20.

The arrests were a part of "Operation Fistfull," a multi-state effort to crack down on crime. The New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, the New York and Queens County District Attorney's Offices were some of the involved agencies.