Investigators say Raritan club was base for mob crew
By:Roger Alvarado
A yearlong investigation into illegal gambling and drug dealing at a Raritan social club by the Somerset County prosecutor’s office and the state police culminated Tuesday in charges against 51 people, including four Hillsborough residents.
Hillsborough residents Robert, 53, and Patty Pietrucha, 50, of Sunnymead Road, John Simonik, 51, of Roycebrook Road, and David Briganti, 30, of Bloomingdale Drive were charged in connection with the investigation.
Mr. Simonik, charged with third-degree conspiracy to promote gambling, and Mr. Briganti, facing third-degree charges for conspiring to possess a controlled dangerous substance and attempting to possess a CDS, remained in Somerset Couny Jail Wednesday.
Ms. Pietrucha, also charged with conspiring to promote gambling, was released on her own recognizance, while Mr. Pietrucha was released on $20,000 cash bail, according to published reports. Mr. Pietrucha faces second-degree possession with intent to distribute and conspiring to distribute cocaine, and conspiring to promote gambling. Investigators have charged Mark D’Alessio, 34, of Bridgewater of selling cocaine to Anthony Scaffidi, 59, of Readington, who they say maintained an illegal gambling operation and conducted narcotics transactions at the Raritan Post War Club at 10 Colfax St. in Raritan Borough.
Mr. D’Alessio also allegedly sold drugs to brothers Raymond, 52, of Bethlehem, Pa. and Richard Killough, 59, of Middlesex and Mr. Pietrucha, 53, who then allegedly supplied cocaine and handled bookmaking operations for people in Somerset and Middlesex counties.
The investigation further charges that Mr. Scaffidi, Joel Ginsburg, 57, of Bedminster, and Matthew DeCastro, 60, of Raritan, worked together to establish the "Post War Club" as a base of operations for their illegal activities, with Mr. D’Alessio frequenting the club on a regular basis to supply them with cocaine.
The state police say Mr. Scaffidi was believed to be "running a crew" for the New York based Genovese crime family and was using the club as a base.
They in turn allowed Mr. D’Alessio to gamble on the illegal gambling machines maintained at the club, and he supplied Mr. Scaffidi and his girlfriend Stacy Hansen, 35, of Flemington with cocaine, the prosecutor said.
On Monday, authorities executed search warrants at the Post War Club and Mr. Scaffidi’s Readington residence and seized a number of items, including six gambling machines, cash and records from the Post War Club, and two gambling machines and a rifle.
The Somerset County prosecutor’s office already had Mr. D’Alessio in its sights from previous alleged illegal drug activities, and it joined forces with the Sstate Ppolice when troopers linked him to the social club.
The investigation further claims that Mr. D’Alessio repeatedly met with approximately three dozen other individuals in the Bridgewater and Raritan area to sell them cocaine.
Mr. D’Alessio’s alleged drug operation allegedly extended to another local business where he essentially established a "branch office" by having Nelson Murillo, 42, a cook at the Olde York Inn, in Raritan, sell his cocaine at that business, according to the prosecutor.
The investigation revealed that Mr. D’Alessio obtained drugs from sources in New York City, or from Mr. Pietrucha, through whom Mr. D’Alessio was known to place regular bets on sporting events, the prosecutor said.
Mr. Pietrucha allegedly got the cocaine from Mr. Killough who obtained it from a variety of sources, according to the charges.
Mr. Pietrucha worked as a gambling agent for Richard Killough, the investigators say, and was responsible for accepting bets and making illegal gambling payouts to a number of local bettors.
In addition to Mr. Pietrucha, Mr. Killough employed a number of other agents who assisted in his extensive bookmaking operations, investigators said.
Authorities said Mr. Killough had over 100 individual bettors who placed bets with him on a regular basis and handled more than $20,000 in illegal bets on a daily basis.
On Monday and Tuesday, more than 50 Somerset County prosecutor’s office detectives, New Jersey state troopers and municipal police officer’s fanned out across central New Jersey to execute nine search warrants at arrest the various individuals involved in the gambling and drug conspiracies, authorities said.
Six individuals including Mr. Pietrucha and Mr. D’Alessio were charged with second-degree possession with intent to distribute CDS and second-degree conspiracy to distribute CDS. They were also charged with third-degree conspiracy to promote gambling, along with the Killough brothers.
Mr. Scaffidi, Ms. Hansen, Mr. Ginsburg and Mr. DeCastro have been charged with maintenance of a gambling resort, fourth degree; conspiracy to maintain a gambling resort, fourth degree; and promoting gambling, a disorderly persons offense.
The Post War Club has been charged with maintenance of a gambling resort, fourth degree, and promoting gambling, a disorderly persons offense.
Mr. Scaffidi, Ms. Hansen and Mr. Ginsburg were also charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess CDS, and third-degree attempt to possess CDS. Mr. Scaffidi was also charged with third-degree possession of CDS after detectives seized cocaine in his pants pocket.
Nine individuals including Mr. Simonik, Ms. Pietrucha and Nicholas Bonge Jr. of Manville were charged with third-degree conspiracy to promote gambling.
Mr. Briganti was charged with third-degree conspiracy to possess CDS and third-degree attempt to possess CDS.
Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest says the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact either the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force at 908-575-3300 or the Somerset County Crime Stoppers TIPS line at 1-888577-TIPS (8477) or online at www.somersetcountycrimestoppers.org. All calls will be kept confidential.