Friday, April 29, 2016

The Mob's Theme Song -- "Money, Money, Money"

By George Anastasia
For BigTrial.net

It was the underworld's version of a full service financial operation.

It featured bookmaking, loansharking and money laundering. Most of the wheeling and dealing took place in a Newark check cashing business.

The numbers, detailed in an indictment unsealed this week by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office, were staggering. The loansharking business, according to the AG, generated $4.7 million in interest payments. The illegal check cashing business took in $9 million in fees while allowing customers to launder money and avoid federal tax reporting requirements. The sports betting operation, with an offshore wire room in Costa Rica, generated millions more.

"This case is a smorgasbord of mob schemes," said acting New Jersey Attorney General Robert Lougy in a news release that detailed the indictment of 10 alleged members and associates of the powerful Genovese crime family.

The charges stem from an investigation dubbed "Operation Fistful" that began in 2007. The probe was spearheaded by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and the Waterfront Commission. Among other crimes, the indictment alleges that several defendants took control of a trucking company that transported cars from the Port of Newark to dealerships throughout New Jersey. Authorities allege the trucking firm was a front for a series of mob scams, including forgery and tax evasion.

"The more the Mafia changes, the more it stays the same," said Elie Honig, head of the Division of Criminal Justice, pointing out that while those charged "adopted sophisticated financial systems to hide their profits, those profits came from traditional street crimes such as loansharking and illegal gambling."

Threats of violence and extortion were part of the package, he added.

Those charged in the case include reputed Genovese crime family capo Charles "Chuckie" Tuzzo, 84,
of Bayside, NY, and mob soldier Vito Alberti, 57, of Morristown. A key player in the schemes, authority said, was mob associate Domenick Pucillo, 58, of Florham Park.

 Pucillo owned Tri-State Check Cashing in Newark and later set up another check cashing business in Hialeah, FL. Both companies were cited in the indictment. In addition, Pucillo was accused to setting up a scheme in which a Portuguese restaurant in Newark ran a check cashing operation through which customers laundered money and avoided taxes.

Authorities allege that during one four-year period over $400 million in checks were cashed through the restaurant-based check cashing operation.

The quasi-legitimate nature of the front businesses are part of the ever changing face of organized crime, said authorities, who point to case after case in which traditional mob gambits are given the veneer of legitimacy. But behind-the-scenes, they say, it's business as usual.

Federal and state authorities in the Philadelphia area are currently monitoring the businesses of several organized crime figures who recently returned from prison and are actively involved in construction, mortgage refinancing and other building services. No one has been charged with any crime and those involved have insisted the businesses are legitimate.

In Operation Fistful authorities alleged that legitimate businesses were used to "front" mob activities. Pucillo, for example, is accused of using his check-cashing business to hide a major loansharking operation in which millions of dollars were put "on the street" at interest rates of 52, 104 and 156 percent annual interest.

In street jargon, the loans were placed at from one to three points. A point is one percent interest due each week.

The indictment contends that Pucillo and Genovese crime family associate Robert "Bobby Spags" Spagnola, 68, of Morganville, NJ, partnered in the loansharking business with Spagnola receiving one point on each loan he brought to the operation. Pucillo was also charged with kicking up some of his profits to Tuzzo and Alberti.

"Victims were required to pay interest on a weekly basis," according to the news release announcing the indictment. "The scheme was designed so that, when the victims made loan payments by check, it appeared that they were cashing checks in the ordinary course of Pucillo's check-cashing business. When they took out loans, victims were required to sign partially completed checks, which Pucillo and his co-defendants could complete and cash through the check-cashing business to collect weekly interest or payment of principal."

Customers also had the option of paying "in cash," the AG noted.

The gambling operation, with offshore Costa Rica connections, was similar to one uncovered in another investigation launched by the Attorney General's Office called "Operation Heat." In that case, members of the Luchese crime family were charged with running a $2.2 billion sports book through Costa Rica. Most of the lead defendants in that case have pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison.

Earlier this month, Joseph Napoli, 80, a one-time member of a three-man ruling commission for the Luchese organization, was sentenced to three years in prison. Matthew Madonna, 80, another member of that ruling body, was sentenced to five years in September. Several other key defendants, including mob capo Ralph Perna and his sons, Joseph and John, were also jailed after pleading guilty in the Operation Heat case.

Nicdemo S. Scarfo, the son of jailed Philadelphia mob boss "Little Nicky" Scarfo, is also a defendant in that case. Scarfo is currently serving a 30-year federal sentence on racketeering and fraud charges.

The sports betting case outlined in the latest indictment echoes the charges that the Luchese group faced. Authorities allege that in one year a group of bookmakers headed by mob associate Vincent P. Coppola, 38, of Union, NJ, handled $1.7 million in bets and pocketed $400,000 in profits.

Coppola is the son of jailed Genovese crime family capo Michael Coppola.

In all, 14 defendants, including 10 alleged mob members and associates, were charged. The government also filed forfeiture actions against real estate holdings and bank accountants linked to many of the defendants. The indictment formalized charges first outlined when eight of the defendants were arrested back in October. Most are free on $400,000 bail.

Attorney General Lougy said organized crime "remains a corrosive presence wherever it can turn a big profit" and that behind the crimes were "victims whose lives were ruined because of their debts or because of their drug or gambling problems."

George Anastasia can be reached at George@bigtrial.net.


62 comments

  1. NOW THAT'S THE REAL MOB!!!!!

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  2. Homeland Security And The FBI Been Investigating The Port Of Philadelphia At Packer Avenue Marine Terminal For A Year.

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  3. Nice read George. Safe to say the only philly crew that could pull this off is Phil Narducci or Joey Pungie.s boys. The others would be Staino or Motto.

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  4. THE PHILLY DUMB FELLAS!!!! DON'T KNOW HOW TOO MAKE MONEY!!!

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  5. Phil Narducci Is With New York!

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    1. I hear Brooklyn is with new York too

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  6. Faffys almost out !!

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    1. I still can.t get over the fact that till this day with all the State and Government problems with money there still breaking the bookies balls. Unless he is threatening somone most these guys are independents no longer associates they don.t want the headaches that come with being connected . In New York they kick up a street tax to the local street guy thats in charge and thats the end if it. In So phila the guy kicks up a street tax and the local mob guys still try to guzzle the guys book. If u got two dozen books kicking up a tax why try to bust them out. Thats goid money once a month or week. Never understood that theory with the So phila crews. Why make waves Just make money !!!
      Correction to above comment

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  8. PHIL NARDUCCI HAS THE BRAINS TOO PULL IT OFF!!!!

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  9. Mr. Phil Narduccui Is A Good Earner!! Not Like Theses Morons!!!!

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  10. PHIL NARDUCCI ALWAYS!!! MADE MONEY!!!

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  11. Phil Narducci Is True Blue Gangster!

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  12. Freckles the feds are coming. So is Nicodemus. I told you freckles you should go to church every Sunday and everyday of the week.

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  14. What's Chickie's status in the mob?

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  15. George,
    In your opinion are the Philly Mob/street gang even capable of these things?

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  16. Chickie Does The Windows At Stogie Joe's!!!!

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  17. THE PHILLY RATFELLAS BETTER GO GET A JOB!

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  18. Chickie Is A 80 Year Old Man Hanging On Corners Still. Very Sad!

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  19. What Does He Think Of His Son Johnny Chang. Putting His Wife On 60 Minutes To Rat!! On John John Veasy. Rat Move!!!!!!!!!!

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  20. LOOK WHAT STEVIE MAZZONE DID!!! RAT!!

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  21. Rated On Uncle Joe And Lou Sheep. On Gambling Charges...

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    1. Him and Uncle Joe might of had words when uncle Joe was in charge and Joeys guys were getting the short end if the stick when they were released from prison and then Uncle Joe went to prison and needed a favor and the answer was no according to the street guys. But stevie is no rat did his time and would not be in the position he is in other wise. I see a lot of anonymous hating and accusations on here thats ur choice. U may not like these guys because they bitch slap u or someone in ur family or friend i get it. But if ur gonna talk shit grow a pair balls face them one on one. Have some class at least or self respect. I don.t condone what these guys do but its the nature of the business. If ur gonna do illegal business ur kicking up no if ands or butts u don.t like it find a Job. But to call someone a rat then hide behind anonymity is just being a coward!!!

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  22. Nothing but a G Thang baby !!!

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  23. NOTHING BUT A RAT THING BABY!!!

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  24. The Fruit Cake Rated!

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  25. The rat mafia more like it

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  26. What's the odds there's another endictment coming up soon ??

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  27. Probably Very Soon With Stevie Mazzone On The Street!

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  28. Anthony V. You Don't Know What Your Talking About! You Better Go Lay Down!!!!!

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    1. Hey slapppy if there was a 302 don.t u think by now there would be a copy of it leaked. My point im making is get the facts before assuming. U hate the guy thats fine don.t make up shit like a slap d--k then hide behind anonymous. Grow a pair unless may be ur a female then i get it he must of kicked you to the curb lol

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  29. Go Look At The 302!! Dumbie!!!!!....

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  30. HEY ANTHONY V. MOB BOSS'S RAT!!! WHAT THE HELL YOU TALKING ABOUT CUS???!!!

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  31. These nincompoops are finished!!! I wonder who's next to flip

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  32. Does anybody here know how to spell?

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  33. What was this family called when scarfo was in the streets.. the mob that cant shoot straight!!! Lol

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    1. Nicks boys hit there marks pretty good roughly 25 bodys were collected furing his reign u might be talking about the Stanfa crew Phil Colletti missed a few and there were others. They did get lucky though one summer afternoon though. Even a blind squierl finds a nut once in a while.

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  34. This Mob Is Called The Mob That Couldn't Think Straight!! Lol

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  35. RICO CHARGES ARE COMING!!!

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  36. Hey Anthony V. The Only One That Got Bitch Slap Was The Fruit Cake!!!! At Stogie Joe's!!!...

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  37. Anthony V. Your A Moron!!! Don't Have A Clue What Your Talking About!......

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    1. Anthony V stick to building houses that u can't even do that right. Stop trying to b one of these jerk-offs.Your definitely not cut out for this so called mob. Watch what u wish for.

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  38. Hey Moron!!! When Your A CI There Won't Be Any Leaks!!! Stevie Mazzone Is A CI !!!

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    1. Hey slap dick if theres no leaks where u getting ur info from or are u a former snitch ur self or did one of these guys u hate so much put one of ur family members to sleep. Either way anonymous.s hiding behind ur computer.s making accusations about others shows everyone what ass holes u really are. Now i know why George shuts the comment section down. I did get a kick out of the guy who pretended to be uncle Joe though lol.

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  39. Hi Geoege A the Galati Ins trial scheduled for September how many of the defendents charged have pleaded guilty already and is any of them who did now talking ?

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  40. All these bozos are good for is ratting each other !! Better go get regular jobs ya clowns !!!

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  41. What's Up With That Other Snitch Sonny Mazzone?????????

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  42. Philadelphia the city of brotherly love...more like the city of rats baby !!! Lol

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  43. YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!!!!^

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  44. HEY ANTHONY V. BATTAGLINI 302 George A. PUT UP DON'T YOU KNOW HOW READ!??? STOP STICKING UP FOR RATS!!!!!!!!!

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  45. This Moron Anthony V. Got Be One Of The WANABES!!!!!!!LOL

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  46. Gentlemen im not going to get in a pissing contest. I will agree on one thing yes i believe there is someone talking. But i don.t think its Stevie. My hunch is its someone who has never been indicted or someone that if he gets charged again is 3 strikes ur out. Enough said on this topic.

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  47. Battaglini ratted ??

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  48. NO MORE MOB!!!ALL THEY ARE IS STREET CORNER BUMS!! THAT'S ALL THEY ARE!

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  49. Thank You Anthony V.

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  50. It's Very Simple It Was Stevie Mazzone Gambling Book! Stevie Rated It Came Out In Court Room.Lou Sheep Went To Jail! And They Tried To Put It On Uncle Joe! That's All !!!!

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  51. Rico charges coming soon fellas!! These ratfellas are done. bye bye mob in philly...Let's see who else flips

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