NJ: Betting suspects arraigned

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Betting suspects arraigned

By CHARLES WEBSTER IV
STAFF WRITER
Asbury Park Press
March 18, 2008

More than three dozen people snared in an undercover investigation into an alleged $500 million illegal sports gambling ring operating out of Monmouth County and the tri-state region were in court Monday morning for their arraignments.

A Monmouth County grand jury indicted 37 people last month for their roles in a half-billion dollar sports betting ring. About 50 people were rounded up at the culmination of the 16-month undercover investigation, dubbed Operation Thunderbird, that brought down a sports betting ring that reached across three states and took in more than $500,000,000 from bettors in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania during the course of the probe.

Carl "Basil" Palo III, 52, of Holmdel; Joseph "Brother" Pasquale, 51, of Mantoloking; Richard "Gordon" Crossan, 49, of Hillsborough; Ralph "Harry" Santoro, 53, of Bridgewater; and Michael "Roger" Pesin, 59, formerly of Philadelphia but now living in Costa Rica, were fingered in the indictment as the leaders of the racketeering enterprise. The five men were also charged with money laundering, along with Pasquale's wife Carol, 57, of Brick.

Joseph Pasquale, Crossan and Santoro have each posted $1 million bail.

Thomas "Cid" Floriani, 62, of Beach Haven, and Joseph Floriani, 35, of New York City, are each charged with money laundering and racketeering conspiracy for their roles in the sports betting operation.

Charles Winters, 68, and Gilbert Cilli, 68, both of Toms River; Chester Zdunek, 78, Stephen Cirillo, 51, Curtis Reilly, 44, all three from of Colts Neck; Charles Pantiliano, 56, of Howell; and Jude Pantiliano, 33, of Brick, were all charged as employees in Joseph Pasquale's illegal activities. Pasquale and Winters were also charged for their roles in collecting interest in excess of 180 percent on loans.

The undercover operation was named after the boat seized in the course of the investigations — a Thunderbird yacht named "Risky Business," owned by Pasquale. Ten other people from North Jersey were also named in the indictment as Pasquale employees.

Richard Neale Sr, 53, of West Long Branch; Peter Paolo, 53, of Jackson; and Edward Goyden, 37, of Beach Haven, are named as employees of Crossan, Santoro and Thomas Floriani in the indictment.

Each of the defendants were released after posting $100,000 bail.

Those arraigned in court Monday morning in Operation Thunderbird:

MONMOUTH COUNTY

Richard Neale Sr., 53, West Long Branch; Chester Zdunek, 78, Colts Neck; Stephen Cirillo, 51, Colts Neck; Curtis Reilly, 44, Colts Neck; Charles Pantiliano, 65, Howell; Carl "Basil" Palo III, 52, Holmdel.

OCEAN COUNTY

Joseph "Brother" Pasquale, 51, Mantoloking; Carol Pasquale, 57, Brick; Charles Winters, 68, Toms River; Gilbert Cilli, 68, Toms River; Peter Paolo, 54, Jackson; Thomas "Cid" Floriani, 62, Beach Haven; Edward Goyden, 37, Beach Haven; Jude Pantiliano, 33, Brick.

ELSEWHERE

Anthony Sylvander, 39, Rutherford; Alejandra Avalos, 34, North Bergen; Richard "Gordon" Crossan, 49, Hillsborough; David Samson, 44, Fort Lee; James Monaco, Jr., 31, Hoboken; Angelo Cascetta, 53, Hoboken; Louis Aligo, 61, Hoboken; Philip Falco, 48, Wallington; John Bussi, 48, New Milford; Joseph Casseta, 43, Hoboken; Joseph Ferrante Jr., 29, Secaucus; Joseph Ferrante Sr., 58, Secaucus; Paris Branda, 39, Hoboken; William Hildebrant, 57, Califon; Frank Ciaramella, 48, Sparta; Ralph "Harry" Santoro, 53, Bridgewater; Frank Denigris, 76, Fort Lee; Joseph Floriani, 35, New York City; Joseph Mazzarella, 67, New York City; James Monaco Sr., 59, Hoboken; Michael "Roger" Pesin, 59, Costa Rica; Anthony "Harry" Pintabona, 69, Secaucus; Marc DeGennaro, 48, Secaucus.