AG and PSP Announce Break-UP of Gambling, Loan Shark Operation in Philly

PHILADELPHIA - A large-scale bookmaking, gambling and loan sharking organization, which had an association with the Philadelphia organized crime family, was broken-up Tuesday by troopers from the Pennsylvania State Police.

Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation focused on Nicholas "Nicky the Hat" Cimino, 49, Wallingford, who was the head of a southeastern Pennsylvania gambling and loan sharking organization from 2002 through March 2007.

Evidence and testimony regarding the case was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the criminal charges being filed today.

As the investigation progressed court authorized wiretaps were placed on Cimino and his associates' phones in order to reveal the full scope of the organization.

The grand jury found that Cimino operated a sophisticated organization and employed several individuals including; Gregory "King" Triantafillou, Daniel Diedrich, Victor "Vic" Novelli and Spiro "Bart" Barbalois, who were allegedly employed to accept sports wagers, collect money from bettors' losses, and to pay bettors for winning bets.

Corbett said that one of Cimino's principle debt collectors was identified as Joseph Pizza and was responsible for receiving payments from individuals who owed the organization money.

Agents said that Pizza was also allegedly responsible for "laying off" bets from the Cimino organization to other bookmaking organizations in order to minimize the risk of loss to the organization.

According to the grand jury, Cimino's girlfriend, Gayle Hudson, assisted Cimino in managing his organization and maintained some of his debt collection records. She also managed Cimino's real estate holdings and, on one occasion, allowed the organization to operate out of her residence.

The grand jury found that in addition to his bookkeeping business, Cimino also operated an illegal casino located at 431 MacDade Blvd., Folsom, Delaware County, where poker games, illegal betting on horse races and other gambling activity occurred.

According to the grand jury, Cimino's organization had a close association with the Philadelphia organized crime family through Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello. Cimino allegedly used this connection to have Monacello assist him in collecting money owed from either gambling losses or usurious loans.

Corbett said that Cimino allegedly paid Monacello a "tax" every month in order to be allowed to operate his illegal gambling casino.

Grand jury testimony revealed that Cimino hid the source of his illegal income by purchasing numerous real estate properties in Delaware County and by using Pizza and two other individuals, Ralph "Ralphie head" Abbruzzi and Robert Beck, to purchase winning Pennsylvania state lottery tickets, which were cashed in to show a "legitimate" source of income.

According to the grand jury, Cimino used the associates of his bookmaking operation to collect debts and had a reputation in the gambling community for threatening or using force to pressure individuals to pay.

The grand jury found that the highest level of intervention the Cimino organization would use in collecting debts was having Monacello directly contact debtors to threaten use of force.

Corbett said that Monacello was used in this capacity because of his strong reputation in the gambling community and his association with the Philadelphia organized crime family.

On at least one occasion, Monacello had a debtor's car vandalized and on several other occasions sent individuals to a debtor's house with the intent of assaulting them into paying Cimino.

Corbett said that Cimino and Monacello were allegedly aware on the grand jury's ongoing investigation and Monacello allegedly encouraged witnesses to perjure themselves during testimony.

On January 8, 2008, Monacello and a grand jury witness met with a lawyer, Gregory Quigley, to discuss the nature of the impending investigation. During the conversation, Monacello allegedly directed Quigley to attempt to get a continuance, to find out more information about the case and to call and enter his appearance.

The grand jury found that Monacello specifically instructed a grand jury witness on how to respond to questions that the grand jury might ask him. At one point during the conversation Monacello allegedly indicated that the witness would be given immunity and Quigley said "once they give you immunity, then you can commit perjury."

According to the grand jury, Monacello, Quigley and the witness met at the law offices again on January 14, 2008 to instruct the witness on how to answer questions once he appeared before the grand jury.

Corbett said that during the conversation, Monacello allegedly told the witness "what you have to remember, you never collected any money, you never threatened anybody and you don't do any bookmaking or loansharking, you're a plumber."

"Through this investigation, we successfully dismantled a major illegal gambling enterprise operating in Southeastern Pennsylvania," Corbett said. "And, with the arrest of Louis Monacello, we have taken into custody a well-known member of the Philadelphia organized crime family."

Corbett noted that the investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected.

Corbett thanked the Pennsylvania State Police and the FBI for their work on the case.

The case will be prosecuted in Delaware County by Chief Deputy Attorney General Erik Olsen of the Attorney General's Organized Crime Section.

Below is a full list of the defendants and the charges against them.

-Nicholas "Nicky the Hat" Cimino, 49, is charged with corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, gambling, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Louis "Bent Finger Lou" Monacello, 41, is charged with solicitation to commit aggravated assault, corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, gambling, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, conspiracy to commit perjury, intimidation of witness and obstructing administration of law or other governmental function.

-Gregory "King" Triantafillou, 39, is charged with corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, gambling, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Joseph Pizza, 59, is charged with corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, gambling, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Daniel Diedrich, 34, is charged with corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, gambling, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Victor "Vic" Novelli, 28, is charged with corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, gambling, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Spiro "Bart" Barbalios, 34, is charged with corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, gambling, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communication facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Gayle Hudson, 52, is charged with corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-David "Fat Dave" Stroj, 36, California, is charged with corrupt organizations, pool selling and bookmaking, criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Ralph "Ralphie Head" Abbruzzi, 59, is charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Robert "Bobby Beck" Beck, 43, is charged with criminal conspiracy, criminal use of a communications facility and dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities.

-Gregory Quigley, 37, is charged with conspiracy to commit perjury, intimidation of witness and obstruction administration of law or other governmental function.

Also being charged as a result of this investigation on offenses unrelated to the Cimino organization:

-Vincent Manzo, 46, is charged with pool selling and bookmaking and criminal conspiracy.

-Frank Pierantozzi, 47, is charged with pool selling and bookmaking and criminal conspiracy.

-Carmen DellaPolla, 73, is charged with pool selling and bookmaking, criminal conspiracy and gambling.

-Gary Battaglini, 47, is charged with criminal attempt (receiving stolen property), possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and criminal conspiracy.

-Andre Sims, 37, is charged with possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and criminal conspiracy.