Men from Little Silver, Sea Bright and Shrewsbury Township were among 22 arrested in recent days as part of “a well-organized gambling enterprise” that grossed $1 million a week, authorities said Tuesday morning.
An 18-month investigation dubbed “Operation Shore Bet” culminated Monday with the arrest of 22 suspects, the seizure of a dozen vehicles, more than $500,000 in cash, and the freezing of financial accounts used to facilitate the illegal activity, according to an announcement by Acting Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.
The enterprise, allegedly run by men in Monmouth Beach and Hillsborough, extended from Monmouth County into New York State, and allegedly used “sophisticated electronic resources – including websites to track illegal wagering and record profits and losses,” as well as money-laundering schemes, Gramiccioni said.
The local men, and the charges against them, are:
Vincent Fragale, Jr., DOB April 3, 1955, of Shrewsbury Township. Crimes: Second Degree Racketeering Conspiracy (N.J.S.A. 2C:41-2d), Third Degree Promoting Gambling (N.J.S.A. 2C:37-2a1), Third Degree Possession of Gambling Records (N.J.S.A. 2C:37-3a1), First Degree Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a), and Second Degree Conspiracy to Commit the Foregoing Offenses (N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2). Bail: $750,000 with no 10 percent option and a bail source hearing required.
Jordan Huthwaite, DOB July 10, 1985, of Little Silver. Crimes: Second Degree Racketeering Conspiracy (N.J.S.A. 2C:41-2d), Third Degree Promoting Gambling (N.J.S.A. 2C:37-2a1), Third Degree Possession of Gambling Records (N.J.S.A. 2C:37-3a1), First Degree Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a), and Second Degree Conspiracy to Commit the Foregoing Offenses (N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2).
Bail: $200,000 with no 10 percent option and a bail source hearing required.
Patrick Yerves, DOB March 16, 1981, of Sea Bright. Crimes: Second Degree Racketeering Conspiracy (N.J.S.A. 2C:41-2d), Third Degree Promoting Gambling (N.J.S.A. 2C:37-2a1), Third Degree Possession of Gambling Records (N.J.S.A. 2C:37-3a1), First Degree Financial Facilitation of Criminal Activity (N.J.S.A. 2C:21-25a), and Second Degree Conspiracy to Commit the Foregoing Offenses (N.J.S.A. 2C:5-2). Bail: $200,000 with no 10 percent option and a bail source hearing required.
