8 arrested in mob-linked crime ring
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.
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.
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