Anthony Frascone was arrested yesterday with four others for gambling charges (Anthony Pellegrino, Philip Carucci, Frank LoNigro and Joseph Pietaro). I'm not very familiar with the Bonannos, is he a key player? The other guys are soldiers or connected?
Thanks,
Anthony Frascone, 75, of East Meadow, was arraigned today before Judge Robert Schwartz on seven counts of Promoting Gambling in the First Degree (an E felony); Criminal Usury in the First Degree (a C felony); Criminal Usury in the Second Degree (an E felony); 54 counts of Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E Felony); and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 18, 2024. Frascone faces up to five to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Anthony Pellegrino, 59, of Merrick, was arraigned today before Judge Schwartz on seven counts of Promoting Gambling in the First Degree (an E felony); Criminal Usury in the First Degree (a C felony); Criminal Usury in the Second Degree (an E felony); 54 counts of Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); Conspiracy in the Fourth Degree (an E felony); and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 19, 2024. Pellegrino faces up to five to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Philip Carucci, 59, of Levittown, was arraigned today before Judge Schwartz on charges of Promoting Gambling in the First Degree (an E felony); Possession of Gambling Records in the First Degree (an E felony) and Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 18, 2024. Carucci faces up to one to three years in prison if convicted.
Joseph Pietaro, 57, of West Islip, Suffolk County, was arraigned today before Judge Schwartz on fifty counts of Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor) and one count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 18, 2024. Pietaro faces up to one to three years in prison if convicted.
Frank LoNigro, 51, of Merrick, was arraigned today before Judge Schwartz on six counts of Promoting Gambling in the First Degree (an E felony); one count of Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); and one count of Conspiracy in the Fifth Degree (an A misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. He is due back in court on December 19, 2024. LoNigro faces up to one to three years in prison if convicted.
In addition to operating the illegal sports book, Pellegrino and Frascone also allegedly engaged in illegal loansharking activities, issuing a usurious loan to at least one individual for thousands of dollars and penalizing him three points, or three percent interest, each week over the life of the loan. The interest rate equates to an annual interest percentage rate of approximately 156%.
Frascone also allegedly received a portion of the interest payments on that loan after payments were made by the victim to Pellegrino.
