Crime & Safety
West Caldwell Resident Charged In Statewide Gambling Sting: NJAG
The North Jersey-based gambling enterprise involved online sports betting and illegal poker clubs, authorities alleged.
CALDWELLS, NJ — A West Caldwell resident was among dozens of people charged in connection with a two-year investigation into an illegal gambling ring linked to the Lucchese crime family, state prosecutors announced Friday.
The North Jersey-based gambling enterprise involved online sports betting and illegal poker clubs, officials said. Investigators said they uncovered $3 million in suspected criminal proceeds.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ) and New Jersey State Police said 37 of the 39 people had been arrested. The defendants all face charges of racketeering, gambling offenses, money laundering, and other crimes.
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Steven Bongo, 65, of West Caldwell, was among those charged this week, prosecutors said, alleging that he held the position of "sportsbook sub-agent" in the ring.
Police raided four poker clubs in Passaic and Bergen counties on Wednesday, two of which were hidden in the back rooms of functioning restaurants. Law enforcement also searched a business in Paterson that was storing gambling machines, and the homes of seven people who are accused of being involved in the operation, authorities said.
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The high-level managers of the criminal enterprise oversaw the gambling activities and received a cut of the criminal proceeds, officials said. Dozens of others are accused of hosting poker games and working at the poker clubs, and managing bettors in an illegal online sportsbook.
Two of the defendants are also accused of stealing home improvement items from area retailers, including $22,000 in merchandise from Home Depot, to renovate and "flip" properties that added to their criminal proceeds.
>> Read More: NJ Councilman, 38 Others Charged In Gambling Probe Tied To Famous Crime Family: Officials
This article contains reporting by Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch staff
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