Jail For 3 Morris Co. Men In Mob Gambling Scheme: NJ AG

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Three men from Morris County were sentenced to jail time on Friday for their roles in a Genovese crime family-linked gambling ring, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said.

The three men, Vito Alberti, 60, of Morristown, Domenick Pucillo, 61, of Florham Park, and anuel Rodriguez, 54, of Chatham, pleaded guilty to the charges against them in May. They were part of a group of six sentenced for their role in the ring on Friday.

The six men were accused of helping run 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," Grewal said. "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 six men were sentenced today in Morris County superior court:

1. Domenick Pucillo, 61, of Florham Park, N.J., was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering.
2. Robert Spagnola, 72, of Morganville, N.J., was sentenced to five years in prison. He pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury.
3. Vito Alberti, 60, of Morristown, N.J., was sentenced to five years in prison. He pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury.
4. Manuel Rodriguez, 54, of Chatham, N.J., was sentenced to four years in prison. He pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering.
5. Vincent Coppola, 42, of Union City, N.J., who previously served 103 days in jail, was sentenced to time served and two years of probation. He pleaded guilty to third-degree promoting gambling.
6. Jerry Albanese, 52, of Scotch Plains, N.J., was sentenced to two years of probation. He pleaded guilty to third-degree promoting gambling.

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.