6/25 – Year-long Investigation Nets 22 Accused in Alleged Gambling Enterprise

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By John Burton
FREEHOLD — An investigation involving state, various counties and a number of local law enforcement resulted in the arrest of 22 people Monday for their alleged involvement in a more than $1 million-a-week organized gambling enterprise operating in Monmouth County, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Among those taken into custody on Monday were Richard Crossan, 55, Hillsborough, and Anthony Gagliardi, 38, Monmouth Beach, who, authorities said, acted as co-conspirators in the racketeering operation that focused on illegal gambling and laundering the proceeds.
The 18-month investigation, conducted by the state Department of the Treasury, the prosecutors’ offices in Monmouth, Somerset, Essex and Hudson counties, and New York State law enforcement, resulted in the arrests.
Nine search warrants were executed from June 18-24 with assistance from police in Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Toms River and West Long Branch. That led to the seizure of more than $500,000 in cash, dozens of vehicles and the freezing of financial accounts authorities charged were used in the alleged operation.
Authorities charge Crossan and Gagliardi used a sophisticated electronic network, including websites, to conduct the operation and track proceeds.
The Monmouth County Sherriff’s Department and the Asbury Park, Deal, Freehold, Howell, Marlboro, Ocean, Red Bank and Wall police departments also participated in the investigation.
In addition, the investigation reveled that some involved were also involved in the alleged sale of prescription narcotics, specifically oxycodone and Vicodin, and marijuana, according to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
A search of 40-year-old Anthony Carlesimo’s Long Branch home on June 18, allegedly uncovered 2 pounds of marijuana, about 50 oxycodone tablets, digital scales and paraphernalia used for the distribution of narcotics and more than $23,000 in cash, the prosecutor’s office said.
Three suspects remain a-large: Edward Cichoski, 6, Wall; Pasquale Dellomo, 41, Miami, Fla.; Nuno C. Oliveira, 38 Asbury Park.
The 22 defendants are scheduled to make their initial court appearance at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday before Superior Court Judge Honora O’Brien Kilgallen at the Monmouth County Court House.