Lucchese Mob Ran Illegal Gambling Ring Across NJ; 39 Arrested Including Councilman: AG

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the takedown on Friday, April 11, following multi-agency raids at 12 locations across northern New Jersey earlier in the week. Among the sites: four poker clubs operating out of Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park, including two hidden behind functioning restaurants, and a Paterson business storing gambling machines.

Authorities say the Lucchese members oversaw a highly structured criminal network that managed illegal poker games, gambling machines, and online sports betting websites, generating more than $3 million in suspected criminal proceeds.

Those profits were allegedly laundered through shell corporations and legitimate businesses, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

“Romanticized versions of organized crime have been the subject of countless movies and television shows,” Platkin said. “But the reality isn’t cinematic. It’s about breaking the laws the rest of us follow, and it’s about money, control, and the threat of violence.”

According to the complaint, the operation had layers of leadership. High-level managers delegated responsibilities to club managers, poker hosts, and sportsbook agents. The poker clubs were cash-heavy, using “rakes” from each hand to fund operations and employing dealers, some of whom were working off gambling debts.

Online sports betting, hosted through offshore sites, was managed by agents and sub-agents responsible for recruiting bettors, collecting payments, and kicking up profits to leadership.

• George J. Zappola, 65, of Red Bank – alleged Lucchese ruling panel member
• Joseph R. “Big Joe” Perna, 56, of Belleville – alleged Lucchese captain
• John G. Perna, 47, of Little Falls – alleged Lucchese soldier
• Wayne D. Cross, 75, of Spring Lake – alleged Lucchese soldier

Also charged was Anand Shah, 42, of Prospect Park — a local councilman — accused of managing poker games and sportsbook operations as part of the criminal enterprise.

Others charged include: 

• Michael P. Frasso, 48, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, sportsbook agent

• Gerard V. Frasso, 46, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, sportsbook agent
• Roberto Aliano, 45, of Wayne, New Jersey, poker-club manager
• Frank Gallipoli III, 57, of Totowa, New Jersey, poker-club manager
• Frank Imparato, 46, of Saddle Brook, New Jersey, poker-club manager
• Mario Capalbo, 71, of Woodland Park, New Jersey, poker-club manager and gambling-machine supplier
• Ralph P. Gibilisco, 65, of East Hanover, New Jersey, poker-club manager
• Linda Gibilisco, 60, of East Hanover, New Jersey, poker-club employee
• John T. Capone, 60, of Belleville, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Issa Sebahie, 50, of Edgewater, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent/poker host and dealer
• Michael A. Khoury, 33, of Edgewater, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Robert M. Filippini, 54, of Wayne, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Jahed Ali, 33, of Paterson, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent/poker dealer and promoter
• Christopher M. Trimble, 52, of Lincroft (Middletown Township), New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Stephen D. Prince, 64, of Wayne, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Steven Bongo, 65, of West Caldwell, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Steven M. Romano, 43, of Lincoln Park, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Richard J. Belle, 39, of Wayne, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Roberto Roman Jr., 47, of Basking Ridge (Bernards Township), New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Samuel R. Shirak, 33, of North Haledon, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Louis D’Alessandro, 63, of Cedar Grove, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Joseph J. Gossweiler, 41, of Florham Park, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent/poker-club manager
• James A. Romano, 37, of Island Heights, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent
• Mohamed H. Nassar, 38, of West New York, New Jersey, poker host
• Ramze Hassan, 47, of Totowa, New Jersey, poker-club employee
• Giovanni G. Gallipoli, 27, of Totowa, New Jersey, poker-club employee
• Jose D. Hernandez, 50, of Totowa, New Jersey, poker-club employee
• Samir S. Nadkarni, 48, of Longwood, Florida, sportsbook sub-agent/poker host
• Naser M. Matari, 56, of Paterson, New Jersey, poker host
• Michael J. Ricciardi, 38, of Brandon, Florida, sportsbook sub-agent/poker host
• Joan E. Santana-Suarez, 42, of Dover, New Jersey, sportsbook sub-agent/poker host
• Justin Kim, 51, of Haworth, New Jersey, poker host
• Jamil Sadullayev, 46 of Montvale, New Jersey, money launderer

Authorities said $22,000 in merchandise stolen from Home Depot was tied to two defendants accused of using the items for home-flipping schemes to further launder gambling proceeds.

Charges & Penalties

All 39 defendants are charged with:

First-degree racketeering

Second-degree conspiracy to promote gambling

Second-degree money laundering

Some face additional charges including money laundering (1st degree), gambling offenses (3rd & 4th degree), criminal usury, and retail theft.

First-degree charges carry 10 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $200,000.

“Criminal enterprises like this pose a serious threat to the safety and well-being of our communities,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan, NJSP Superintendent.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Mount Pleasant and receive free news updates.