Former Longshoreman Barred from Returning to Waterfront because off Illegal Bookmaking, Distribution of Drugs, and Association with an Organize Crime Figure/ Convicted Racketeer, and Fraud.
The Commission unanimously ordered the denial of a petition by former longshoreman Salvatore Gregorio who was seeking restoration of his longshore registration. The Commission decided to deny the petition following the discovery that Gregorio had been involved in selling drugs; illegal bookmaking; associating with an organized crime figure, and convicted racketeer; fraud, in connection with his petition..
Gregorio had been employed as a longshoreman at the Howland Hook Marine Terminal, in Staten Island, New York. After an investigation by the Waterfront Commission and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, he was arrested on June 7, 2011 and consequently indicted for two counts of Conspiracy and for Promoting Gambling in the First Degree when he was taking bets from other longshoremen. Pursuant to a plea agreement with the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, Gregorio pleaded guilty to Disorderly Conduct and agreed to surrender his longshoreman’s registration. The Commission accepted that surrender on May 7, 2013.
Gregorio filed a petition, with sponsorship from employers, asking that the Commission re-establish his registration as a longshoreman. Following an investigation, the Commission found evidence of the following:
• Gregorio had associated with hitman Mario Gallo, employeed by the Bonanno and Lucchese crime families, a convicted racketeer, and a career offender. He was convicted of murder in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and other charges. Following Gallo’s discharge from prison, Gregorio attended Gallo’s birthday dinner and shared a vacation with him.
• Gregorio committed fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation in connection with his sworn petition to the Commission for restoration of his registration as a longshoreman. Gregorio lied that he had never knowingly associated with a person known or reputed to be a member or associate of an organized crime group , when, in truth and in fact, he had associated with Mario Gallo.
• Gregorio knowingly and unlawfully sold marijuana.
• Gregorio knowingly participated and profited from unlawful gambling activity by deliberately engaging in bookmaking. He received bets, oversaw wagers, managed illegal online gambling accounts, and collected debts from longshoremen at the employee parking lot of New York Container Terminal. The Commission further noted the risks of organized crime influence as a result of an illegal gambling operation on the waterfront.
• Gregorio appears to have abandoned his Petition for Restoration in that he has not reached out to the Commission since declining to answer questions or provide requested documents at the Commission’s offices.
The Commission further discovered that Gregorio’s presence at the piers or other waterfront terminals would pose a threat to the public safety and peace. Following the Investigation, the Commission denied Gregorio’s petition for restitution of his registration as a longshoreman.
