|
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Charges Federal and Local Government Employees for Operating Illegal Gambling Ring
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of New York, JOSEPH M. DEMAREST, JR., the
Assistant Director-in-Charge of the New York Office of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation ("FBI"), and JANE HUGHES, the
Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Office of the United
States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General ("USPS-OIG"),
announced the arrests this morning of nine individuals, including
current and former employees of the United States Postal Service
("USPS"), Metropolitan Transit Authority ("MTA"), and the City of
New York Department of Sanitation ("DSNY"), for operating an
illegal gambling business out of various workplaces including
USPS and MTA facilities. A tenth individual was previously
arrested in a related case. According to the Complaint filed in
Manhattan federal court:
Since at least May 2005, the defendants have operated a
"Lotto"-type gambling business (the "Lottery") which tracked the
numbers chosen for the New York State Lotto drawings and paid out
on a monthly basis prizes in the range of $100,000. Each month,
hundreds of players paid approximately $20.00 per entry in the
Lottery. "Lottery books," which listed each player's name and
the six numbers he or she chose to play per entry, were
distributed to players from a central storage facility by
"runners." The winner was the first player or players to have
all six numbers chosen in the New York State Lotto.
JAMES MONTELEONE, 52, a former MTA employee, currently
resides in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. FRANK LINSALATA, 46,
currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. ALVIN BLANK, 73, a
former USPS employee, currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
JUAN DEJESUS, 48, a USPS employee, currently resides in New York,
New York. JOHN ALFONZO, 49, a DSNY employee, currently resides
in Brooklyn, New York. RUBEN CHAVES, 22, an MTA employee,
currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. MICHAEL FARRAJ, 45, an
MTA employee, currently resides in Staten Island, New York.
MAURICE PALMER, 62, a USPS employee who was identified as JOHN
DOE 1 in the Complaint, currently resides in Queens, New York.
ROMUALDO MUNOZ, 59, a USPS employee who was identified as JOHN
DOE 2 in the Complaint, currently resides in Bronx, New York.
MONTELEONE was arrested this morning in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania; he was presented in the Eastern District of
Pennsylvania and released on bail. The remaining eight
defendants were arrested this morning in New York, New York, and
are expected to appear in Manhattan federal court later today.
The defendants each are charged with one count of conspiracy to
conduct a gambling operation, which carries a maximum potential
prison term of five years and a maximum fine of $250,000 or twice
the gross gain or loss from the offense.
ANDREW TURELLI was arrested on July 21, 2009, in a
related case and is charged with one count of conspiracy to
conduct a gambling operation.
Mr. BHARARA thanked the FBI and the USPS-OIG for their
work in the investigation of this case. Mr. BHARARA also thanked
the DSNY and the MTA for their assistance.
This case is being handled by the Office's General
Crimes Unit. Assistant United States Attorneys AIMEE HECTOR and
DANIEL CHUNG are in charge of the prosecution.
The charges contained in the Complaint are merely
accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and
until proven guilty.
Press Releases | New York Home
|
