Six men linked to the Genovese family sentenced to jail in New jersey
Six men will be spending a lot of time of jail because of a New Jersey mob ring linked to the Genovese crime family that generated millions of dollars in illegal schemes, authorities said.
The six men were sentenced Friday for their roles in criminal schemes that generated millions of dollars through illegal loansharking, unlicensed check cashing, gambling, and money laundering, according to a release from the Office of Attorney General. The schemes were linked to the New York-based Genovese organized crime family.
The six were indicted in "Operation Fistful," a joint investigation by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, conducted with assistance from the New York and Queens County District Attorneys' Offices and other law enforcement agencies, according to the release.
Pucillo and the other associates who were indicted allegedly are part of a New Jersey crew that was operating under the supervision and control of two alleged "made" members of the Genovese crime family – Vito Alberti, a Genovese "soldier" and Charles "Chuckie" Tuzzo, a Genovese "capo" – who answer to the Genovese hierarchy in New York, according to the release.
The following six defendants were sentenced today by Superior Court Judge Donald G. Collester Jr. in Morris County:
- Domenick Pucillo, 61, of Florham Park was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- Robert Spagnola, 72, of Morganville was sentenced to five years in prison. He pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury.
- Vito Alberti, 60, of Morristown was sentenced to five years in prison. He pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury.
- Manuel Rodriguez, 54, of Chatham was sentenced to four years in prison. He pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering.
- Vincent Coppola, 42, of Union City, who previously served 103 days in jail, was sentenced to time served and two years of probation. He pleaded guilty to third-degree promoting gambling.
- Jerry Albanese, 52, of Scotch Plains, was sentenced to two years of probation. He pleaded guilty to third-degree promoting gambling.
Assistant Attorney General Annmarie Taggart and Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Mahmood took the guilty pleas and handled the sentencing hearings for the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau.
"When those involved in traditional organized crime engage in schemes such as loansharking and illegal gambling, they profit at the expense of victims who are struggling with debt, gambling problems, and other issues," said Attorney General Gurbir Grewal. "By prosecuting the men who ran these schemes and putting key defendants behind bars, we send a message that we will not tolerate these corrosive criminal activities that harm individuals, families and society as a whole."
The defendants were charged, in varying combinations, with running the following criminal schemes, which allegedly generated "tribute" payments up the Genovese chain of command:
- A massive loansharking operation that yielded about $4.7 million in illegal interest (Pucillo, Spagnola, Alberti, Tuzzo [charges pending against Tuzzo]);
- An illicit multi-million dollar offshore sports gambling enterprise (Coppola, Albanese);
- An unlicensed check-cashing business that made $9 million in fees in four years, while enabling customers to launder funds and evade taxes by skirting federal reporting requirements (Pucillo, Rodriguez, Rodrigues);
- Tax fraud and evasion (Alberti, Spagnola, Coppola, Rodriguez and Rodrigues).
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