Shrewsbury Twp. Man Among Those Charged in $1M-a-Week Gambling Ring

By Christopher Sheldon

A Shrewsbury Township man was one of the 16 Monmouth County residents who have been arrested for their roles in a $1 million-a-week internet gambling ring that operated out of a county home base, authorities said Tuesday.

As a result of an 18-month sting dubbed "Operation Shore Bet," a total of 25 in and out of the area were charged with major gambling and/or drug offenses. Anthony Gagliardi, 38, the Monmouth Beach man, and Richard Crossan, 55, of Hillsborough, allegedly led the racketeering enterprise that promoted gambling and laundered money, acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni said in a news release.

Gagliardi is facing racketeering conspiracy, promoting gambling, possession of gambling records and financial facilitation of criminal activity charges. His bail was set at $2 million, cash only. More than $150,000 was seized by police from Gagliardi, according to authorities.

Vincent Fragale, Jr., 58, of Shrewsbury Township, was charged with 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.

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.  

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.

He was charged with 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.

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. A BMW and Lexus were seized at the Toms River home of Benyola, prosecutors said.

The 22 people in custody were expected to appear Tuesday afternoon in Monmouth County Superior Court. Three others remained at large.

Others charged, besides Fragale, Gagliardi, Yerves, Crosson and Anthony Carlesimo, were: 

• Patrick Yerves, 32, of Sea Bright — 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.

• 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 — 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 — 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.

• Jordan Huthwaite, 27, of Little Silver — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — 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.

• Christopher Thomas, 40, of 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.

• William D. Baroska, 54, of Ocean Township — 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 — 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Three men charged remained at-large on Tuesday, though authorities did not say with which crimes they have been charged:

• Edward Cichoski, 60, of Wall

• Pasquale Dellomo, 41, of Miami

• Nuno C. Oliveira, 38, of Asbury Park

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.