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For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information:
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December 22, 2008  

Division of Criminal Justice
609-292-4791

Office of The Attorney General
- Anne Milgram, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
- Deborah Gramiccioni, Director

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Nine Plead Guilty for Roles in Multi-Million Dollar Sports Gambing Ring in Atlantic City

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TRENTON - Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah Gramiccioni announced today that nine men have pleaded guilty for their roles in a multi-million dollar sports bookmaking ring that operated inside the Borgata Hotel Casino poker room.

According to Director Gramiccioni, the Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau – Casino Prosecution Unit obtained guilty pleas on Friday (Dec. 19) from Ian Blackman, 29, of Mays Landing, Douglas Rubino, 31, of Philadelphia, and John Findaly, 32, also of Philadelphia. The defendants pleaded guilty before Superior Court Judge Michael Donio in Atlantic County to third-degree promoting gambling.

On Thursday, Dec. 18, Bernard Malseed, 65, of Philadelphia, Dominick Grande, 29, of Philadelphia, Russell Brown, 45, of Egg Harbor, William DePena, 40, of Philadelphia, Joseph Baldino, Jr., 24, of Philadelphia, and Frank Baldino, 22, Joseph’s brother, of Philadelphia, also pleaded guilty before Judge Donio to third-degree promoting gambling.

The sports betting ring was shut down in November 2007 when more than 20 people were arrested. The arrests were made as part of a New Jersey State Police and Division of Criminal Justice investigation dubbed “Operation High Roller.” Deputy Attorney General Kerry DiJoseph took the pleas for the Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau – Casino Prosecution Unit.

In pleading guilty, the defendants admitted that between March 2006 and November 2007, they acted as agents for the gambling ring which took in millions of dollars in bets on college and professional football and basketball games. The agents admitted that they brought people into the ring, accepted bets and settled up with bettors, either by accepting payment on losses or paying out winners. Some losers were forced to accept loans to cover their losses at an annual interest rate exceeding 50 percent, in violations of New Jersey’s criminal usury statute.

Earlier last week, Jack Buscemi Jr., 51, of Mullica Hill, and Andrew Micali, 33, of Ventnor pleaded guilty before Judge Donio to their roles in the ring. The investigation revealed that Buscemi was the boss and Micali controlled day-to-day operations of the ring, which illegally took in more than $60 million in bets in 20 months. Buscemi and Micali were indicted on April 10, along with 22 other defendants, including the nine who pleaded on Thursday and Friday.

Judge Donio scheduled the defendants’ sentencings for February. As part of the plea agreements, the state will recommend a probationary term, conditioned on 364 days in county jail, for each of the agents. The state will recommend five years in state prison for Buscemi and Micali.

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