The Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office have charged 34 people with allegedly being part of a mafia-linked gambling ring.  The State alleges that ring was split into two bookmaking and money laundering operations with one led by alleged Genovese member John “Blue” DeFroscia.  Most are charged with promoting gambling and conspiracy.

In this type of case, there are two types of defendants, the big ones and the small ones.  Of course, the small ones get the good, early deals so that the State can make a case against the big defendants.  Knowing this, the attorneys for the  big defendants need to work quickly to assess the case and build a defense early or work out a deal early. 

Just because someone flips doesn’t mean the case is lost.  In fact, if the rest of the evidence is weak, a good attorney can show that the State is desperate enough to get in bed with someone that had admitting to breaking the law and that this person is willing to say anything to save themselves. 

Of course, having one of the main guys flip on everyone in order to get a good deal is an interesting strategy that is not often used, although there are only so many cases with 30+ defendants.  From what I read, this case would be tough for the State to bring to trial just in terms of logistics.  Thus, the incentive to end it quick and early is high.  A defense attorney can and should use this to their advantage.  For those that will not take a deal, all of the attorneys should get together and strategize.

Story is here.

List of those charged along with their specific charges and employer:

1)LAWRENCE ACKERMAN Racketeering Atlantic Agency,Fort Lee, NJ
Old Tappan, NJ Promoting gambling
Age: 46 Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
2)DULO BOLIJEVIC Promoting Gambling Villa Pizza,Rockaway, NJ
Dover, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 36

3)COSMO BRONGO Promoting Gambling Merrill Lynch Short Hills, NJ
Nutley, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 45

4)WILLIAM BUDD Promoting Gambling Federal Express, NY, NY.
Fort Lee, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling Age: 47

5)JOHN CAMIDGE Promoting Gambling Redball Parking, NY, N.Y.
Belmar, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 50

6)GERARDO CIANCI Promoting Gambling Unknown
Bloomfield, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 46

7)THOMAS CONFORTI Racketeering Premio, Hawthorne, N.J.
Fairfield, NJ Promoting Gambling
Age: 44 Conspiracy to Promote Gambling

8)BIAGGINO CIRCELLI Promoting Gambling Schering Plough, NJ
Summit, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 49

9)MICHAEL CIRELLI Racketeering Ideal Plating, Belleville, N.J.
Nutley, NJ Promoting Gambling
Age: 49 Conspiracy to Promote Gambling

10)PATRICK CUOMO Promoting Gambling Unemployed
Congers, NY Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 55

11)JOHN DEFROSCIA Racketeering Clark Printing, Saddle Brook, NJ
“Blue” Promoting Gambling
Warren, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 48

12)JOSEPH DIMAGGIO Promoting Gambling Unknown
Garfield, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 37

13)SAMUEL ERIK Promoting Gambling Erik Jewelry, Paramus, NJ
New Milford, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 29

14)DAVID GREEN Promoting Gambling Unknown
New York, NY Conspiracy to Promote Gambling Age: 48

15)CHRISTOPHER HANSEN Promoting Gambling Unknown
Glen Oaks, NY Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 46

16)EUGENE LEE Promoting Gambling RFA, New York, N.Y.
Cliffside Park, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 33

17)ANTHONY LOMBARDO Promoting Gambling Unknown
Bronx, NY Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 50

18)VINCENT MARCHELLO Promoting Gambling Unknown
Belleville, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 43

19)MICHAEL McNAMARA Promoting Gambling Unemployed
Brooklyn, NY Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 64

20)PABLO NAPOLITANO Promoting Gambling Nino’s Repair, Orange, NJ
Caldwell, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 29

21)GERALD NAPOLITANO Racketeering La Pasteria, Summit, NJ
“Jay” Promoting Gambling
Belleville, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 60

22)FRANK NISTA Promoting Gambling North Shore Racquet Club, NY
“Raven” Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Bayside, NY
Age: 56

23)LOUIS ORANGEO Promoting Gambling United States Postal Carrier
Newark, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 41

24)AGOSTINO PETRILLO,Jr. Promoting Gambling Nino’s Repair, Orange, NJ
“Nino” Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Livingston, NJ
Age: 39

25)NICHOLAS RESTAINO Promoting Gambling Raccioppi’s Bloomfield, NJ
“Pigeon” Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Bloomfield, NJ
Age: 56

26)RICHARD ROSENBLUM Promoting Gambling (At Large)
“Frosty” Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Bronx, NY
Age: 53

27)NURI SAYILIK Promoting Gambling Isabella Jewelry, Wayne, NJ
New Milford, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 45

28)CORNELIUS O’SULLIVAN Promoting Gambling Self Employed, C.P.A.
Nyack, NY Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 40

29)PAUL WEBER Racketeering Aramark, PA
“Shortline” Promoting Gambling
New Rochelle, NY Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 40

30)ROBERT WALSH Promoting Gambling Atlantic Agency, Ft. Lee, NJ
Fort Lee, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 44 Money Laundering, 3rd Degree

31)JOHN VENEZIA Promoting Gambling Cornerstone Contracting,Roselle, NJ
North Caldwell, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 46

32) PATRICK NUFIIO Promoting Gambling Unknown
Cedar Grove, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 48

33)ROBERT CAPRIO Promoting Gambling Unknown
Belleville, NJ Conspiracy to Promote Gambling
Age: 53

34)ANTHONY BOGOSIAN Promoting Gambling Unemployed
Paramus, NJ Conspiracy to Promote gambling
Age: 44 Money Laundering, 3rd Degree