Nassau Man Convicted Of Extorting Man In Gambling Debt Collection: Feds

BROOKLYN, NY — A Franklin Square man and a Queens man were convicted Monday of charges in connection with using extortion — including threats and violence resulting in a man being punched in the face — to collect a gambling debt, the U.S. Attorney's office said.

A federal jury convicted Anthony "Rom" Romanello, 86, of Franklin Square, and Joseph Celso, 50, of Queens, were convicted of conspiracy to commit extortionate collection of credit. Romanello was additionally convicted of extortionate collection of credit.

The verdict came after a one-week trial in federal court in Brooklyn. When sentenced, Romanello faces up to 40 years in prison and Celso up to 20 years in prison.

United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Breon Peace, said the verdict "upheld the rule of law and demonstrates the defendants’ violent and brazen conduct will not be tolerated."

“I commend the jury for holding the defendants accountable for their crimes," he said.
From March to June 2017, Romanello, Celso, and co-defendant, Luan Bexheti, conspired to use extortionate means to collect an unpaid gambling debt owed by a man and his brother, prosecutors said.

The identities of either man were not released.

Patch has reached out to Romanello's attorney, Gerald McMahon of Manhattan, and Celso's attorney, John Meringolo of Brooklyn, ffor comment.

Romanello and Celso "used threats and violence in repeated attempts" to collect the debt, according to prosecutors.

Romanello confronted one of the men on three separate times to demand money in satisfaction of the debt, and on the third time, he and Celso went to the man's restaurant in Manhattan where he told them that he would only pay a portion of the money, prompting Romanello punched him in the face, prosecutors said.

The assault was reported to the New York City Police Department, but the next day, Celso warned the man's brother, that if he did not drop the criminal charge against him, the situation would escalate, and “things would get ugly,” according to prosecutors.

After the man told his brother about the warning, he withdrew his complaint with the NYPD, prosecutors said.

Bexheti, 51, of Queens, pleaded guilty in October 2023 to the extortionate collection of credit conspiracy in connection with the same debt and is awaiting sentencing.