Five Genovese crime family mobsters guilty of multi million dollar illegal loan sharking and money laundering. The New York Based Genovese crime family members where involved with illegal loansharking, unlicensed check cashing, gambling, and money laundering. A joint investigation by the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor as well as other agencies worked together in the case known as “Operation Fistful”.
1. Domenick Pucillo, 61, of Florham Park, N.J., pleaded guilty to first-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering. The prosecution will seek a maximum sentence of 10 years in a New Jersey State prison.
2. Manuel Rodriguez, 53, of Chatham, N.J., pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering. The prosecution will seek a maximum sentence of four years in a New Jersey State prison.
3. Robert Spagnola, 71, of Morganville, N.J., pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury. The prosecution will seek a maximum sentence of five years in a New Jersey State prison.
4. Vito Alberti, 60, of Morristown, N.J., pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury. The prosecution will seek a sentence of five years in a New Jersey State prison.
5. Vincent Coppola, 42, of Union City, N.J., pleaded guilty to third-degree promoting gambling. The prosecution will seek a term of 180 days to be served in the county jail in addition to a term of probation to be served post incarceration.
The official sentencing dates for the men indicted have been set for Sept. 20,2019. The guilty pleas for the defendants where taken by the Assistant Attorney General Annmarie Taggart and Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Mahmood on behalf of the Division of Criminal Justice Gangs & Organized Crime Bureau. The men are being charged with various assortments of charges for conducting the criminal operations which allegedly helped fund the Genovese Crime Family.
Pucillo, Spagnola, and Alberti are all being charged for an enormous loansharking operation which allegedly yielded about $4.7 million in illegal profits. There are also allegations against Tuzzo for participating in such an operation, but the charges are still pending at the moment.
Coppola is being charged for his involvement in operating an offshore sport gambling enterprise which yielded millions of dollars in illegal profits. Jerry Albanese is also a member of the Genovese Crime Family who currently has charges pending against him for his involvement in this illicit business scheme.
Pucillo is also being charged for his involvement in an illegal check-cashing business that allowed customers to launder funds and evade federal taxes while also bringing in $9 million in fees over the course of 4 years. Additionally, there are charges still pending against Abel J. Rodrigues for his involvement.
In addition to the above charges Alberti, Spagnola, Coppola, Rodrigues and Rodrigues are also facing charges for tax evasion and fraud.
