Lombardi's Pizzeria

[Wiseguy]

I saw a Philly.com article in a newsfeed at the link below. Unfortunately, it's no longer coming up. The title was something like "Lombardi's Pizza was set to open in Parx Casino, then investigators alleged mob ties..."

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/t ... &mobi=true



However, I found much of the same info in the piece below from the PA Gaming Control Board Meeting. It basically deals with Lombardi's owner Michael Giammarino, who is step-son to Genovese captain John Brescio, as well as is connected to Bonanno captain John DeSimone and Gambino associate John Delutro.


PA Gaming Control Board Meeting Timestamps (October 2018)

PGCB Office of Hearings and Appeals Deputy Chief Counsel Steve Cook explains that SONIC SERVICES, INC was granted a “Gaming Service Provider” license to operate a Lombardi’s Pizzeria eatery within the Parx Casino Bensalem property in August 2016.

Shortly thereafter, the PGCB Bureau of Investigations & Enforcement (BIE – a separate entity that acts independently from the Board aside from administrative procedural requirements), was informed by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (NJSCI) that the restaurant’s principal owner, Michael Giammarino, was in collaboration with organized crime figures. The Office of Enforcement Counsel (OEC) conducted its own year-long investigation and filed a complaint urging the Board to revoke the Pennsylvania GSP license of SONIC SERVICES.

A closed hearing on the matter was held in May 2018, with testimonial and documentary evidence submitted by the OEC, Parx Casino, New Jersey law enforcement, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor (WCNYH), and Mr. Giammarino on behalf of SONIC SERVICES. In the hearing, Michael Giammarino testified that his collaboration with purported organized crime figures Joseph DeSimone (a Bonanno family ‘Capo’ who was in direct communication with Parx Casino officials and has since been banned from the property), John Delutro (owner of the Caffé Palermo pastry shop in the Little Italy district of New York City and widely regarded as the cannoli king), and John Brescio (Genovese family ‘Capo’ and step-father to Mr. Giammarino) was minimal.

The hearing officer assigned to the May 2018 closed session reported that the OEC failed to provide proof that Mr. Giammarino’s dealings with the above-named individuals was anything more than “unknowing and innocent.” As a result, the Office of Hearings and Appeals recommended that the BIE’s complaint to revoke SONIC SERVICES‘ GSP license be denied.

(7:25-14:50) Michael Giammarino provides “closing argument” testimony before the PGCB that corroborates his lack of intimate association with the individuals named in the meeting.

He communicates that Mr. Brescio’s influence over the Lombardi’s Pizzeria business was limited in nature (primarily media appearances) after it was transferred to Mr. Giammarino, that Mr. DeSimone reached out to him and was able to facilitate an immediate business meeting with Parx Casino officials, and that Mr. Delutro also initiated contact and relayed a “half-baked” plan that Mr. Giammarino ultimately rejected.

“I just don’t understand how all these people’s misdeeds all of a sudden got basically tattooed on me,” Mr. Giammarino testified. “I didn’t even know these people during the times that all these things happened.”

(14:50-17:52) Mike Roland of the Office of Enforcement Counsel provides the OEC’s closing argument. Mr. Roland states that NJSCI officials informed the Pennsylvania BIE in late 2016 that “organized crime was attempting to infiltrate Parx Casino through a planned pizzeria at the property.” Mr. Roland then repeats testimony submitted by Steve Cook on behalf of the Pennsylvania OEC, and emphasizes that the Office of Enforcement Counsel’s investigations revealed numerous ties between SONIC SERVICES and illicit dealings. PGCB chairman David Barasch informs the parties that a final vote on the matter will take place during an upcoming November 28th PGCB meeting.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.partti ... 0-2018/amp


Video (3:00-18:00)

https://youtu.be/2wQEzWe6L94

[willychichi]

I saw a Philly.com article in a newsfeed at the link below. Unfortunately, it's no longer coming up. The title was something like "Lombardi's Pizza was set to open in Parx Casino, then investigators alleged mob ties..."

http://www.philly.com/philly/business/t ... &mobi=true



However, I found much of the same info in the piece below from the PA Gaming Control Board Meeting. It basically deals with Lombardi's owner Michael Giammarino, who is step-son to Genovese captain John Brescio, as well as is connected to Bonanno captain John DeSimone and Gambino associate John Delutro.


PA Gaming Control Board Meeting Timestamps (October 2018)

PGCB Office of Hearings and Appeals Deputy Chief Counsel Steve Cook explains that SONIC SERVICES, INC was granted a “Gaming Service Provider” license to operate a Lombardi’s Pizzeria eatery within the Parx Casino Bensalem property in August 2016.

Shortly thereafter, the PGCB Bureau of Investigations & Enforcement (BIE – a separate entity that acts independently from the Board aside from administrative procedural requirements), was informed by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (NJSCI) that the restaurant’s principal owner, Michael Giammarino, was in collaboration with organized crime figures. The Office of Enforcement Counsel (OEC) conducted its own year-long investigation and filed a complaint urging the Board to revoke the Pennsylvania GSP license of SONIC SERVICES.

A closed hearing on the matter was held in May 2018, with testimonial and documentary evidence submitted by the OEC, Parx Casino, New Jersey law enforcement, the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor (WCNYH), and Mr. Giammarino on behalf of SONIC SERVICES. In the hearing, Michael Giammarino testified that his collaboration with purported organized crime figures Joseph DeSimone (a Bonanno family ‘Capo’ who was in direct communication with Parx Casino officials and has since been banned from the property), John Delutro (owner of the Caffé Palermo pastry shop in the Little Italy district of New York City and widely regarded as the cannoli king), and John Brescio (Genovese family ‘Capo’ and step-father to Mr. Giammarino) was minimal.

The hearing officer assigned to the May 2018 closed session reported that the OEC failed to provide proof that Mr. Giammarino’s dealings with the above-named individuals was anything more than “unknowing and innocent.” As a result, the Office of Hearings and Appeals recommended that the BIE’s complaint to revoke SONIC SERVICES‘ GSP license be denied.

(7:25-14:50) Michael Giammarino provides “closing argument” testimony before the PGCB that corroborates his lack of intimate association with the individuals named in the meeting.

He communicates that Mr. Brescio’s influence over the Lombardi’s Pizzeria business was limited in nature (primarily media appearances) after it was transferred to Mr. Giammarino, that Mr. DeSimone reached out to him and was able to facilitate an immediate business meeting with Parx Casino officials, and that Mr. Delutro also initiated contact and relayed a “half-baked” plan that Mr. Giammarino ultimately rejected.

“I just don’t understand how all these people’s misdeeds all of a sudden got basically tattooed on me,” Mr. Giammarino testified. “I didn’t even know these people during the times that all these things happened.”

(14:50-17:52) Mike Roland of the Office of Enforcement Counsel provides the OEC’s closing argument. Mr. Roland states that NJSCI officials informed the Pennsylvania BIE in late 2016 that “organized crime was attempting to infiltrate Parx Casino through a planned pizzeria at the property.” Mr. Roland then repeats testimony submitted by Steve Cook on behalf of the Pennsylvania OEC, and emphasizes that the Office of Enforcement Counsel’s investigations revealed numerous ties between SONIC SERVICES and illicit dealings. PGCB chairman David Barasch informs the parties that a final vote on the matter will take place during an upcoming November 28th PGCB meeting.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.partti ... 0-2018/amp


Video (3:00-18:00)

https://youtu.be/2wQEzWe6L94

Thanks for the links Wiseguy. That's interesting that the Paper took the article down?

Maybe the Genovese and/or the Bonanno's have newspaper people on the payroll. https://youtu.be/by5YzWJ9W4U?t=233

[NJShore4Life]

Great pie there at Lombardi’s!

[givememysocks]

Very interesting! Ive been looking for a picture of brescio for a while now. I had no idea he was the same guy who ran this pizza place.

[willychichi]

The article is back up

http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/ ... 81119.html

[Wiseguy]

The article is back up

http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/ ... 81119.html

Thanks Willy.

The article is saying DeSimone was a Philadelphia associate, not the Bonanno captain. Considering it's 20 miles north of Philadelphia, that would make sense.

Photos of Brescio from the linked article, which also has an old interview with him.

Lombardis_Featured-2-1500x937.jpg

Lombardis_3395.jpg

Lombardis_1738.jpg

https://whalebonemag.com/interview-firs ... lombardis/

[BobbyPazzo]

He’s been on tv multiple times. He makes a lot of appearances.