Senior Citizens Busted in New Jersey Gambling Ring: Made $3 Mil in a Year
29 individuals were arrested for their role in running an illegal gambling business out of Northern New Jersey. Nearly all the men charged are over the age of 50.
One of the individuals, Daniel Pronti, 70, was suspended without pay from his job as a Jersey City Department of Public Works employee on Thursday.
The ring, which utilized a call center out of the sports betting hub of Costa Rica, is said to have netted a cool $3 million during the last 12 months.
Mr. Pronti will be suspended indefinitely without pay pending resolution of the legal proceedings," Jersey City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said. His salary is listed as $55,000 annually.
Pronti's son is North Arlington Councilman Daniel Pronti, a retired Montclair police sergeant.
Anthony Pintabona, 72, of Secaucus, is charged with racketeering, money laundering promoting gambling and conspiracy. Authorities say he and Gary Latawiec, 76, of Clifton, ran the illegal operation.
Others from Hudson County charged in the probe are Nicholas Ferro, 28, and Kevin Norton, 54, both of Secaucus; Christine Larva, 71, of Bayonne; Luigi Mele, 72, of Jersey City, and Kevin Melton, 51, of Kearny, officials said.
Search warrants were issued for eight New Jersey counties as well as New York City.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
