Crime & Safety

13 Plead Not Guilty in Monmouth-Based Gambling Ring

Those allegedly involved in a ring that laundered money through Monmouth County banks and used websites to track wagers made their first court appearance Tuesday

Patch Editor Christopher Sheldon contributed to this report.

Thirteen people pleaded not guilty Tuesday for their roles in a $1 million-a-week gambling ring that operated out of Monmouth County and used the Internet to track wagers.

In an initial appearance at the Monmouth County Courthouse, 19 people entered Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen’s chambers in handcuffs.

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Earlier today, investigators said they seized more than $500,000 in cash and a dozen vehicles after executing warrants in Monmouth, Somerset, Essex, and Hudson counties and in New York City over the past week.

While 13 pleaded not guilty, seven others made no plea pending representation. Among the 25 charged, one was in medical and will have his first appearance in jail tomorrow. Two suspected in the gambling ring were released on their own recognizance and two remain at-large.

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Both Richard Crossan, 55, of Hillsborough and Anthony Gagliardi, 38, of Monmouth Beach pleaded not guilty. The two allegedly led the racketeering enterprise that promoted gambling and laundered money, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said.

Bail for Crossan and Gagliardi remained at $2 million. Both will require a bail source hearing and Gagliardi will be seeking a reduction of bail.

Among those charged with gambling or drug offenses in the 18 month investigation, dubbed “Operation Shore Bet,” was Anthony Benyola, 43, who is the deputy public works director in Toms River, a job he has held for the past five years.

Benyola pleaded not guilty. His bail remains set at $200,000 and he will require a bail source hearing.

Benyola, charged with racketeering, gambling and financial facilitation, has been suspended with pay, according to Toms River Business Administrator Paul Shives.

“Anthony was a good, trusted employee, but we haven’t received word on the official charges yet, so it’s difficult to discuss this matter yet,” Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher said Tuesday.

Members of the gambling ring used Monmouth County banks to launder money, while other members sold drugs to an undercover detective from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, according to prosecutors.

Authorities said the ring used “sophisticated electronic resources,” including websites to track wagering and record profits and losses. They did not release details of how the network operated or if it had any connection to organized crime.

“We’re in the 21st century,” Gramiccioni said. “The easiest way to do that is through electronic means — online betting schemes. It was operated through communications on phone and texts.”

Money changes were both financial and done in person, he said, adding that he could not say whether there were any links to organized crime.

The investigation began based on a tip from a “credible source,” he said. It evolved from there, and participating police departments used a “host of investigative techniques.” 

“So that’s good news. The public should be paying attention. Credible tips get us places,” he said.

The investigation also uncovered a conspiracy to sell the prescription drugs oxycodone and Vicodin, as well as marijuana, Gramiccioni said in the release.

While executing a warrant last week at the Long Branch home of Anthony Carlesimo, 40, officers found two pounds of marijuana, about 50 oxycodone pills, more than $23,000 in cash, digital scales and drug paraphernalia, prosecutors said.

Search warrants executed on Monday resulted in the seizure of more than $77,000 and at least 300 Vicodin pills at the Cliffside Park home of Thomas Floriani, authorities said. More than $150,000 was seized from Gagliardi, and a BMW and Lexus were seized at the Toms River home of Benyola, prosecutors said.

As of 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, four attorneys had asked for a bail source hearing on behalf of their clients.

Of the 22 people in custody, no one has made bail yet. The suspects will most likely seek a hearing to reduce bail, Gramiccioni said.

Rosemary Sanchez, 53, of Long Branch did not have representation at the time of the court appearance. She asked Kilgallen if her husband’s side of the family could use their house to make bail.

Kilgallen said the family could try but they would have to “work through the process.”

Anthony DeBlase also did not have representation at the time of the court appearance and intends to retain private counsel.

When Kilgallen read his charges, which include distribution of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substand and conspiracy to commit the foregoing offenses, DeBlase responded, “I don’t know how, but I understand them.”

DeBlase’s bail is set at $100,000 with no 10 percent option and a bail source hearing required.

Some suspects will likely try to resolve the charges before indictments are handed out, Gramiccioni said. If charges are not resolved, cases will be presented to a grand jury.

“We’re quite confident that the proofs are sufficient enough to prove all the defendants guilty beyond reasonable doubt,” he said.

The investigation into Operation Shore Bet is ongoing.

“Stay tuned and see where it takes us from here,” Gramiccioni said. “The public should know that we have eyes and ears everywhere. We’re being proactive. If you’re committing any criminal activity, we’re going to find you and we’re going to bring you to justice.”

The Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office requested anyone with information on the case call 1-800-533-1443.

The investigation was conducted by the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office, Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office, and the Asbury Park, Deal, Freehold Township, Howell, Marlboro, Ocean, Red Bank and Wall Police Departments.

The 22 people in custody are listed below along with their charges and the outcome of the court appearance.

• Richard Crossan, 54, of Hillsborough – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set $2 million cash only with a bail source hearing required.

• Anthony Gagliardi, 38, Monmouth Beach – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set $2 million cash only with a bail source hearing required.

• Anthony Carlesimo, 40, of Long Branch – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity, and drug distribution and possession. His bail was set at $1 million with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Louis Carlesimo, Jr., 80, of Long Branch - Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. He was released on his own recognizance.

• Anthony Benyola, 43, of Toms River – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $200,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Jean Pierre DaSilva, 31, of Oceanport – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $500,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Thomas Floriani, 68, of Cliffside Park - Racketeering Conspiracy,  Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $1 million with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required. No plea, as he was in medical. Floriani will have his initial court appearance in jail Wednesday, June 25.

• Vincent Fragale, Jr., 58, of Shrewsbury Township - Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at  $750,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required. No plea, intends to retain counsel.

• Jordan Huthwaite, 27, of Little Silver – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $200,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Richard Macciola, 38, of Manalapan – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $200,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Patrick Martin, 48, of West Long Branch – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $200,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Joseph Mazzarella, 73, of New York City – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $1 million with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Anthony Pintabona, 75, of Secaucus – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $1 million with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Solomon Saka, 39, of Long Branch - Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $200,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required. No plea, needs representation.

• Christopher Thomas, 40, of the Port Monmouth - Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $750,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required. No plea, intends to retain counsel.

• Patrick Yerves, 32, of Sea Bright – pleaded not guilty to Racketeering Conspiracy, Promoting Gambling, Possession of Gambling Records and Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity. His bail was set at $200,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• William D. Baroska, 54, of Ocean Township – pleaded not guilty to drug distribution and possession. His bail was set at $100,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Justin Coppola, 43, of West Long Branch – pleaded not guilty to drug possession and distribution. His bail was set at $100,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required.

• Anthony DeBlase, 53, of Colts Neck - Drug possession and distribution. His bail was set at $100,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required. No plea, intends to retain counsel.

• Steven Demussi, 50, of Dunellen - Drug possession and distribution. His bail was set at $100,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required. No plea, intends to retain counsel.

• Peggy Peduto, 39, of Long Branch - Drug possession and distribution. She was released on her own recognizance.

• Rosemary Sanchez, 53, of Long Branch - Drug possession and distribution. Her bail was set at $10,000 with no 10 percent option with a bail source hearing required. No plea, intends to retain counsel.

• Nuno C. Oliveira, 38, of Asbury Park - Distribution of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Conspiracy to Commit the Foregoing Offenses. No plea yet, turned himself in Tuesday afternoon. 

Two men charged remained at-large Tuesday, although authorities did not say what crimes they have been charged with:

• Edward Cichoski, 60, of Wall

• Pasquale Dellomo, 41, of Miami


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