Anthony Frascone was arrested yesterday with four others for gambling charges (Anthony Pellegrino, Philip Carucci, Frank LoNigro and Joseph Pietaro). I'm not very familiar with the Bonannos, is he a key player? The other guys are soldiers or connected?

Thanks,

https://www.nassauda.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1716

Anthony Frascone, 75, of East Meadow, was arraigned today before Judge Robert Schwartz on seven counts of Promoting Gambling in the First Degree (an E felony); Criminal Usury in the First Degree (a C felony); Criminal Usury in the Second Degree (an E felony); 54 counts of Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E Felony); and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 18, 2024. Frascone faces up to five to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Anthony Pellegrino, 59, of Merrick, was arraigned today before Judge Schwartz on seven counts of Promoting Gambling in the First Degree (an E felony); Criminal Usury in the First Degree (a C felony); Criminal Usury in the Second Degree (an E felony); 54 counts of Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony); and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 19, 2024. Pellegrino faces up to five to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Philip Carucci, 59, of Levittown, was arraigned today before Judge Schwartz on charges of Promoting Gambling in the First Degree (an E felony); Possession of Gambling Records in the First Degree (an E felony) and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 18, 2024. Carucci faces up to one to three years in prison if convicted.

Joseph Pietaro, 57, of West Islip, Suffolk County, was arraigned today before Judge Schwartz on fifty counts of Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor) and one count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 18, 2024. Pietaro faces up to one to three years in prison if convicted.

Frank LoNigro, 51, of Merrick, was arraigned today before Judge Schwartz on six counts of Promoting Gambling in the First Degree (an E felony); one count of Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); and one count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor).  The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 19, 2024. LoNigro faces up to one to three years in prison if convicted.

In addition to operating the illegal sports book, Pellegrino and Frascone also allegedly engaged in illegal loansharking activities, issuing a usurious loan to at least one individual for thousands of dollars and penalizing him three points, or three percent interest, each week over the life of the loan. The interest rate equates to an annual interest percentage rate of approximately 156%.

Frascone also allegedly received a portion of the interest payments on that loan after payments were made by the victim to Pellegrino.

He was (and probably still is) a high-level player. He's old school. He's also another Bronx guy who has been operating in Long Island for many years

From what I was able to tell, there was no mention of mob ties anywhere in that article. Just goes to show that just because it's not mentioned it doesn't mean it's not there.

That's pathetic. People gamble all of the time. I wish I had a back room joint to hang out and play some table games. I'm guessing these guys don't advertise like Amscot. So that means they went out of their way looking for money. Crack down on something else.

A former police officer and a friend were the ones running it, Frascone had his name thrown in, they did not even mention mob ties or say it was a mob run operation. Francine may have had a minor role if he had any at all.

Exactly.

I doubt that there was a minor role. Regardless, I agree with the sentiment that this was a bullshit case. People will applaud the feds while gladly handing over 40% of their paychecks.

Yea it's kind of late now but in the future, there needs to be a presidential candidate that says, "I want to know why the FBI is wasting millions of dollars on catching Italian bookies."

The amount of money the FBI spends on catching the five families is ridiculous. Cartels, street gangs, political fringes run freely throughout our country, but the guys running gambling joints are the gravest criminals out there.is laughable.

I honestly believe they target the families more than any other group because it's the easiest way to distinguish yourself as a new agent. You can be the guy that brings down historical mafia figures or the guy catching border jumpers. First one gets more headlines.

No doubt about that. Its been that way for many decades already.

The Mafiosi are viewed as "colorful" -- like Damon Runyon characters.

The others are just viewed as low brow criminals.