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OPERATION “NET-BET BLITZ”
Somerville – Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne J. Forrest and New Jersey State Police Superintendent Joseph “Rick” Fuentes announce that on December 15, 2007, five individuals were arrested in connection with a four month gambling investigation dubbed Operation “Net-Bet Blitz,” so named because it resulted in the dismantling of a Internet sports betting gambling operation that accepted thousands of dollars in illegal sports wagers monthly.
The investigation was a joint operation conducted by the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office Organized Crime and Narcotics Task Force and the New Jersey State Police Organized Crime North Unit. It began when authorities learned that gamblers in Somerset County were placing bets through
www.beteastsports.com, an illegal sports betting website connected to the gambling operation. Thereafter, undercover detectives were able to infiltrate the gambling operation, identify individuals who served as New Jersey agents for the internet gambling operation and were able to place dozens of bets on sporting events through
www.beteastsports.com.
As the investigation progressed, detectives learned that defendant Anthony Pecoraro, aka “Cheese,” (dob: 3/15/63) of Deputy Minister Drive, Colts Neck, maintained a “package” (or group of players who bet under codenames) on the website. Defendant Pecoraro controlled access to the site for these players by distributing their codenames and passwords, setting gambling limits, settling disputes, and paying or collecting money based on the outcomes of the bets.
Defendant Pecoraro was assisted in his gambling operation by defendant and former NFL lineman Richard Todd Burger, aka: Todd Richard Burger (dob: 3/20/70) of Rachel Court, Freehold, who collected gambling debts for Pecoraro.
On three separate occasions during the course of this investigation, an undercover State Police detective met with an associate of Pecoraro in Bridgewater. During these meetings, Pecoraro’s associate collected money purportedly owed by the undercover detective to Pecoraro for gambling losses.
The investigation also revealed that defendants Stephen Barone (dob: 1/5/63) of Lancaster Way, Jackson, and Daniel Alaimo (dob: 2/22/56) of Grove Avenue, Metuchen, acted as “agents” who steered other gamblers to, and managed certain gamblers for, defendant Pecoraro in exchange for a percentage of the money generated by their gambling activity.
Finally, the investigation revealed that defendant Peter Carfaro (dob: 5/15/81) of 19th Street, Brooklyn, New York, operated his own gambling operation, on this and other websites, on Staten Island and Brooklyn, and placed bets with Pecoraro through Barone.
On December 15, 2007, detectives from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office and New Jersey State Police arrested defendants Pecoraro and Alaimo at the Cheesequake Rest Area on the Garden State Parkway, as they met to exchange money owed to defendant Pecoraro for gambling losses. After the meeting and incident to defendants’ arrest, detectives seized $42,914.00 in cash and a $4,000.00 check made out from defendant Alaimo to defendant Pecoraro.
Subsequent to the arrests of defendants Pecoraro and Alaimo, detectives arrested defendant Burger at his Freehold residence and seized $1,277.00 from him.
Finally, detectives arrested defendants Barone and Carfaro at a Diner on Route 9 in Freehold as they met to exchange money owed for gambling losses. After the meeting and incident to defendants’ arrest, detectives seized $5,280.00 from defendant Carfaro.
Following the arrests, police searched the vehicles, residences and businesses of defendants Pecoraro and Barone.
From defendant Pecoraro’s Colts Neck residence, detectives seized two computers, $20,000.00 in cash, and a safe containing $900.00 and financial records. From defendant Pecoraro’s business, Traffic Safety Services, LLC, Hadley Road, South Plainfield, detectives seized a computer and financial records.
From defendant Barone’s Jackson residence, detectives seized two computers, a CPU unit, financial records, and a .357 Magnum handgun. From defendant Barone’s business, A Taste of Italy, Rt. 9 South, Howell, police seized two computers.
Following their arrests, all five defendants were charged with Promoting Gambling, 3rd degree and Conspiracy to Promote Gambling, 3rd degree. Bail for all five defendants was set at $20,000.00 each with a 10% option by the Hon. Thomas H. Dilts, J.S.C.
