Arrests disrupt Genovese crime family in N.J.
A reputed 'capo' and a 'soldier' were among those charged with racketeering.
Seven reputed members and associates of the Genovese organized crime family were arrested Tuesday and charged with numerous racketeering counts, delivering a blow that officials said would "weaken the family's grip" on New Jersey.
The Genovese-aligned group allegedly reaped millions in criminal profits in the Garden State through loansharking, unlicensed check cashing, gambling and money laundering, said acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman.
"We charge that this crew of the Genovese crime family was up to many of the Mafia's old tricks in New Jersey," Hoffman said. "[A]s long as they do, we're going to be here to send them to prison."
The group allegedly operated under the control of two alleged "made" members of the Genovese family, Charles "Chuckie" Tuzzo, 80, of Bayside, N.Y., and Vito Alberti, 55, of New Providence, N.J.
Most of their alleged activity was based in Newark but reached as far south as Ocean County. Law enforcement officials said they also issued an arrest warrant for another associate and charged three additional associates by summons.
Hoffman said members of the group ran a massive loansharking operation that generated about $1.3 million in interest a year; operated an illicit multimillion dollar offshore sports gambling enterprise; and used an unlicensed check-cashing business to make more than $9 million in fees during a four-year run that enabled customers to launder funds and evade taxes.
In addition, the group allegedly laundered $666,000 in drug money through check-cashing businesses owned by Domenick Pucillo, 56, of Florham Park; illegally controlled a trucking firm that transported new Nissan cars from the Port of Newark; and committed numerous instances of tax fraud and evasion.
According to prosecutors, Pucillo issued $3 million in usurious loans during a two-year span that generated $1.3 million in interest per year. Pucillo, who allegedly partnered with Genovese associate Robert "Bobby Spags" Spagnola, 67, allegedly charged up to 156 percent interest on those loans and shared the proceeds up the Genovese chain of command. New Jersey law prohibits making loans charging more than 30 percent interest.
Among those charged were Flor Miranda, 40, of Newark, who worked as office manager for the check-cashing operation; Vincent P. Coppola, 37, of Union (son of jailed Genovese capo Michael Coppola), who allegedly ran the illegal sports gambling enterprise; and John W. Trainor, 42 of Brick and Jerry Albanese, 47, of Scotch Plains, who prosecutors said acted as agents for the gambling operation.
Abel J. Rodrigues, 52, of Bridgewater, and Manuel Rodriguez, 49, of Chatham were charged in allegedly running the illegal business that cashed $400 million in checks out of a Newark restaurant.
"The Genovese Crime Family has historically exerted its influence on the Port of New Jersey," said N.J. Commissioner Michael Murphy of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor. "Disruption of its profits from gambling, loansharking and money laundering weaken that family's grip."