https://mafianewsblog.wordpress.com/tag/joseph-lascala/Genovese associates admit using illegal gambling website as front for Mafia bookmaking
Posted on July 30, 2014
Two Springfield residents admitted in U.S. District Court in Newark to charges that they conspired with the Genovese organized crime family in an illegal sports betting website, said U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman.
Joseph Graziano, 77, and Dominick J. Barone, 44, each pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge federal court and both men face sentences of up to 20 years in prison plus a fine of $250,000 when they are sentenced in November.
The scheme involved a website supposedly based in Costa Rica, a Central American nation that plays host to many legal gambling sites.
Prosecutors discovered that Beteagle.com existed only as a bookmaking front for Genovese associates based in northern New Jersey who gave local customers a user name and a password to access the site and place bets.
“Instead of a guy with a pad and pencil in his pocket, they used the website,” said Matthew Riley, a spokesperson for Fishman.
The site allowed operators to track wagers while collections and payments were made in person. If a gambler failed to make good on his loses, the Genovese crew used threats of violence to collect cash.
In pleading to the racketeering charge, Graziano agreed to forfeit $1 million. Barone, also known as “Harpo,” will forfeit $100,000.
Four others previously pleaded guilty to their roles in the racketeering conspiracy: John “Johnny Fugazi” Breheney, 49, and Salvatore Turchio, 48, both of Little Egg Harbor; Jose Gotay, 76, of New Milford, N.J., and Patsy “Uncle Patsy” Pirozzi, 75, of Suffern, N.Y.
The Genovese Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra operates in northern New Jersey and elsewhere out of smaller groups, sometimes referred to as “crews.”
Each crew – headed by a “captain,” “capo,” or “skipper” – consists of “soldiers” and “associates.” The captain was responsible for supervising the criminal activities of his crew and providing members with support and protection. In return, the captain often received a share of the crew’s earnings.
Genovese Capo Joseph “Pepe” LaScala
Genovese Capo Joseph “Pepe” LaScala
Various criminal activities of a group of associates referred to as the “Lascala Crew” were allegedly directed by 81-year-old Genovese gangster, Joseph Lascala, of Monroe Township in Middlesex County.
These activities included the theft of goods and cargo, the receipt of stolen property in interstate commerce, extortion, illegal gambling, and the collection of unlawful debt.
Members and associates of the Lascala Crew and others, together with individuals that own and operate the website Beteagle.com, used it to profit through illegal gambling operations in northern New Jersey and elsewhere.
High-level associates of the Lascala Crew acted as “agents” of an illegal gambling business that was operated through the website. Before the advent of computerized betting, these agents would be referred to as “bookmakers” or “bookies.”
Through the use of a username and password, the agents accessed the website and tracked the bets or wagers placed by their bettors. This “electronic portfolio” was referred to as the agent’s “package.”
The agent also had the ability, through the website, to create packages for sub-agents. Sub-agents, who also were members or associates of the Lascala Crew, operated under the agent, maintained their own bettors, had access to the website related to their package, and were required to share their profits with the agent and ultimately, Lascala.
Graziano and Barone were among 13 men charged with racketeering conspiracy in a 2012 criminal complaint.
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Dominick J. Barone, Joseph Graziano, Joseph LaScala | Leave a reply
Bayonne man spared prison time for role in online gambling ring
Posted on March 5, 2014
Mar 04, 2014
A Bayonne man who took part in an illegal online gambling ring won’t do any prison time, a federal judge said today.
Kenny Baran, 50, who pleaded guilty in September to transmission of wagering information, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Claire Cecchi in Newark to six months home confinement and two years probation.
Baran also was ordered to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet and fined $2,000. He could have been sentenced to up to two years in prison and fined as much as $250,000.
He was one of 14 people — including Bayonne residents Eric Patten, 35, Mark Sanzo, 53, and Robert “Worm” Scerbo, 54 — who authorities say were associated with a crew headed by reputed Genovese member Joseph LaScala who were charged in May 2012.
The trials of Patten, Sanzo and Scerbo have all been granted continuances as they negotiate plea deals, according to federal court documents.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the group of men used a website, beteagle.com, to run an illegal gambling ring across northern New Jersey in a scheme that also involved extortion, theft, interstate transportation of stolen property and illegal gambling.
The investigation found the group accepted bets through the website and collected on those bets, officials said. If a bettor could not or refused to pay, members of the crew would threaten and extort the bettor to collect those debts, officials said.
this is what happen to part of 14 people indicted in 2014
JOSEPH GRAZIANO
Register Number: 10337-054
Age: 80
Race: White
Sex: Male
Released On: 01/24/2017
DOMINICK BARONE
Register Number: 64496-050
Age: 47
Race: White
Sex: Male
Released On: 11/22/2016
JOHN BREHENEY
Register Number: 44051-053
Age: 52
Race: White
Sex: Male
Located at: Fort Dix FCI
Release Date: 11/16/2017
PATSY PIROZZI (maybe in trial)
Register Number: 64497-050
Age: 77
Race: White
Sex: Male
NOT IN BOP CUSTODY
Release Date: UNKNOWN
ERIC PATTEN
Register Number: 64494-050
Age: 40
Race: White
Sex: Male
Released On: 04/25/2017
MARK A SANZO
Register Number: 64489-050
Age: 58
Race: White
Sex: Male
Located at: Devens FMC
Release Date: 08/11/2017
