8 arrested in mob-linked crime ring
Steve Lieberman
June 12, 2015
(Photos at link below)
Rockland's crackdown on mob-run gambling and loansharking led to eight arrests following an investigation into a sports betting operation, authorities said Thursday.
Dubbed "Operation Rock Bottom," the 10-month investigation focused on illegal high-interest street loans and an Internet off-shore gambling website, District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said.
Investigators seized illegal gambling records, computers and more than $750,000 through search warrants in Rockland, Bergen County, New Jersey; Matamoras, Pennsylvania; Franklin Square, New York; and Fort Lauderdale and Orange County, in Florida, Zugibe said.
Four of those arrested live in Rockland. In announcing the ring, officials said it was also active in Westchester County, but did not give further specifics.
The eight arrested are accused of collecting bets and pressuring people who borrowed money at interest rates topping 25 percent to make weekly or bi-weekly payments.
The gambling website gave players and bettors a user name and password to place wagers on events such as football and basketball, Rockland prosecutor Dominic Crispino said. Those charged were responsible for monitoring the website's activity and collecting from the losing bettors or paying out winners, Crispino said.
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Arrested were:
■ Ronald Ayes, 71, of 26 College Ave., South Nyack, charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records, fourth-degree money laundering, and second-degree criminal usury.
■ Nicholas Farese, 51, of 8 Clearwater Court, Nanuet, charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records, fourth-degree money laundering.
■ John Reyes, 72, of 37 S. Monsey Road, Monsey, charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records, fourth-degree money laundering, and second-degree criminal usury.
■ Anthony Moschella, 75, of 5 Church Lane, Valley Cottage, charged with charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records and fourth-degree money laundering.
■ Mark Moschella, 52, of New Jersey, charged with fourth-degree money laundering and a misdemeanor of second-degree promoting gambling.
■ Richard Herman, 75, of Manhattan, charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records and fourth-degree money laundering.
■ Peter Reda, 57, of Franklin Square, charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records and fourth-degree money laundering.
■ Vincenzo Reda, 34, of Franklin Square, charged with first-degree promoting gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records and fourth-degree money laundering.
All eight were arraigned by Clarkstown Justice Scott Ugell and released without bail.
The Regional Investigative Resource Center/Organized Crime Unit, which includes Rockland police departments, New York and Pennsylvania state police, NYPD Asset Forfeiture Unit, and prosecutors in Bergen and Florida all contributed to the investigation.
The arrests came on the heels of similar operations late last year that led to 21 people being charged in connection with multi-million dollar operations. In March, a Rockland investigation led to federal charges against a mob captain Daniel Pagano of Ramapo and Michael Palazzolo of Suffern. Pagano, the son of late mob kingpin Joseph Pagano, has pleaded guilty in the case.
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2 ... /71085750/
Press Release
http://rocklandgov.com/departments/dist ... -releases/
Rockland Mob Gambling Bust
Moderator: Capos
Rockland Mob Gambling Bust
All roads lead to New York.
Re: Rockland Mob Gambling Bust
Two more guys go down as part of the Pagano investigation.
Giants fan Joe Ruback charged with loan sharking
Steve Lieberman
December 17, 2015
Joseph Ruback and Luigi Sessa face felony charges in continuing investigation into illegal gambling and loansharking in Rockland
Joseph Ruback, the athletic director at Biondi School in Yonkers and former Spring Valley High School football coach, was arrested Thursday morning as part of an investigation into organized crime gambling rings and those who use violence to collect debts, authorities said.
Joseph Ruback, 46, a New City resident who has received acclaim as the "License Plate Guy" Giants fan, and Luigi Sessa, 63, of Suffern, face felony charges. Ruback, who has a previous conviction for stealing, faces fourth-degree grand larceny, while Sessa is charged with second-degree criminal usury and has a history of gambling-related charges.
Ruback, the athletic director at the Biondi School in Yonkers, is charged with running his own loan-sharking operation, lending money and collecting at illegal interest rates, using violence and threats at times, authorities said.
Sessa has been connected to a large-scale gambling enterprise in Rockland and Westchester counties, New York City, Long Island, Pennsylvania and Florida, authorities said. His arrest was part of a 16-month undercover investigation into illegal loansharking and gambling linked to organized crime.
Eight other alleged players were arrested in June by the Rockland District Attorney's Office Organized Crime Unit through "Operation Rock Bottom," which focused on an Internet off-shore gambling website. Investigators seized illegal gambling records, computers and more than $750,000. The unit comprises district attorney's detectives, Clarkstown police, state police, and the FBI.
District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Thursday that Ruback and Sessa separately "used threats, intimidation and even physical force to collect debts and charged usurious interest rates on outstanding debts."
Ruback was being arraigned in Clarkstown Town Court and later released on $2,000 bail. Sessa was released without bail.
The June arrests and those made Thursday came on the heels of similar operations late last year that led to 21 people charged in connection with multimillion-dollar operations. In March, a Rockland investigation led to federal charges against a mob captain, Daniel Pagano of Ramapo, and Michael Palazzolo of Suffern. Pagano, the son of late mob kingpin Joseph Pagano, has pleaded guilty in the case and has been sentenced to federal prison.
Ruback has gained local notoriety as a New York Giants super fan, called the "License Plate Guy" for wearing Giants-themed placards to Big Blue games. Ruback, who claims to have not missed a game in 14 years, recently took part in a friendly wager on the Giants-Patriots game with the Rockland Jewish Community Center executive to provide Thanksgiving turkeys to People to People.
Ruback has experienced both sides of the law.
On Dec. 9, 1998, he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, and was sentenced Feb. 3 to five years probation and 6 months of community service. Ruback and a former Spring Valley High School quarterback, then 19, were charged with the theft of about $14,000 from the J.C. Penney at the Palisades Center mall.
In 1999, Ruback, while on probation, helped chase some suspects involved in an afternoon robbery at Marty's Sporting Center in Clarkstown. On March 27, 1997, he spotted someone breaking into his truck and gave chase. He tackled and held the suspect for police.
Ruback was hired as the Spring Valley High varsity football coach in May 1996, after coaching the school's junior varsity team for five years. He was then a physical education teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School. He led the Spring Valley team to a 10-1 record in 1997 and the state semifinals.
He had resigned two months before his 1998 arrest, stating he was about to get married and wanted to return to school to further his education.
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2 ... /77471858/
Giants fan Joe Ruback charged with loan sharking
Steve Lieberman
December 17, 2015
Joseph Ruback and Luigi Sessa face felony charges in continuing investigation into illegal gambling and loansharking in Rockland
Joseph Ruback, the athletic director at Biondi School in Yonkers and former Spring Valley High School football coach, was arrested Thursday morning as part of an investigation into organized crime gambling rings and those who use violence to collect debts, authorities said.
Joseph Ruback, 46, a New City resident who has received acclaim as the "License Plate Guy" Giants fan, and Luigi Sessa, 63, of Suffern, face felony charges. Ruback, who has a previous conviction for stealing, faces fourth-degree grand larceny, while Sessa is charged with second-degree criminal usury and has a history of gambling-related charges.
Ruback, the athletic director at the Biondi School in Yonkers, is charged with running his own loan-sharking operation, lending money and collecting at illegal interest rates, using violence and threats at times, authorities said.
Sessa has been connected to a large-scale gambling enterprise in Rockland and Westchester counties, New York City, Long Island, Pennsylvania and Florida, authorities said. His arrest was part of a 16-month undercover investigation into illegal loansharking and gambling linked to organized crime.
Eight other alleged players were arrested in June by the Rockland District Attorney's Office Organized Crime Unit through "Operation Rock Bottom," which focused on an Internet off-shore gambling website. Investigators seized illegal gambling records, computers and more than $750,000. The unit comprises district attorney's detectives, Clarkstown police, state police, and the FBI.
District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Thursday that Ruback and Sessa separately "used threats, intimidation and even physical force to collect debts and charged usurious interest rates on outstanding debts."
Ruback was being arraigned in Clarkstown Town Court and later released on $2,000 bail. Sessa was released without bail.
The June arrests and those made Thursday came on the heels of similar operations late last year that led to 21 people charged in connection with multimillion-dollar operations. In March, a Rockland investigation led to federal charges against a mob captain, Daniel Pagano of Ramapo, and Michael Palazzolo of Suffern. Pagano, the son of late mob kingpin Joseph Pagano, has pleaded guilty in the case and has been sentenced to federal prison.
Ruback has gained local notoriety as a New York Giants super fan, called the "License Plate Guy" for wearing Giants-themed placards to Big Blue games. Ruback, who claims to have not missed a game in 14 years, recently took part in a friendly wager on the Giants-Patriots game with the Rockland Jewish Community Center executive to provide Thanksgiving turkeys to People to People.
Ruback has experienced both sides of the law.
On Dec. 9, 1998, he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny, a felony, and was sentenced Feb. 3 to five years probation and 6 months of community service. Ruback and a former Spring Valley High School quarterback, then 19, were charged with the theft of about $14,000 from the J.C. Penney at the Palisades Center mall.
In 1999, Ruback, while on probation, helped chase some suspects involved in an afternoon robbery at Marty's Sporting Center in Clarkstown. On March 27, 1997, he spotted someone breaking into his truck and gave chase. He tackled and held the suspect for police.
Ruback was hired as the Spring Valley High varsity football coach in May 1996, after coaching the school's junior varsity team for five years. He was then a physical education teacher at Hillcrest Elementary School. He led the Spring Valley team to a 10-1 record in 1997 and the state semifinals.
He had resigned two months before his 1998 arrest, stating he was about to get married and wanted to return to school to further his education.
http://www.lohud.com/story/news/crime/2 ... /77471858/
All roads lead to New York.