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For Immediate Release:  
For Further Information:
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January 14, 2009  

Division of Criminal Justice
609-292-4791

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

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Two Men Plead Guilty for Roles in Multi-Million Dollar Sports Gambling Ring in Atlantic City

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TRENTON - Attorney General Anne Milgram and Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni announced that two 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, Nicholas Caltibiano, 25, of Brigantine, and Matthew Zambanini, 29, of Hockessin, Delaware, pleaded guilty yesterday before Superior Court Judge Michael Donio in Atlantic County to third-degree promoting gambling.

The state will recommend that each man be sentenced to a probationary term, conditioned on him serving 364 days in county jail. Zambanini is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 13, and Caltibiano on Feb. 20. Deputy Attorney General Kerry DiJoseph took the pleas for the Division of Criminal Justice Major Crimes Bureau - Casino Prosecutions Unit.

In pleading guilty, the defendants admitted that 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.

The charges stem from Operation High Roller, an investigation led by the State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice which involved the assistance of 11 other law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The investigation revealed that the ring took in more than $60 million in bets in 20 months. The ring was shut down in November 2007, when more than 20 people were arrested.

On Dec. 15, the boss of the ring, Jack Buscemi Jr., 51, of Mullica Hill, pleaded guilty to second-degree conspiracy to commit money laundering, and the man who controlled day-to-day operations of the ring, Andrew Micali, 33, of Ventnor, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal usury. Buscemi and Micali each face five years in prison under their plea agreements. Another leader in the ring, Anthony Nicodemo, 37, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty on Jan. 6. to second-degree conspiracy to promote gambling and launder money. He faces three years in state prison under his plea agreement. Twelve other defendants pleaded guilty previously to third-degree promoting gambling and face jail terms as a condition of probation.

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