'Bada Bing' Bust at 'Sopranos' Location
Friday, February 10, 2006
FOXNews.com
By Todd Venezia
A New Jersey go-go lounge made famous as the location for "The Sopranos" Bada Bing club became linked to a real-life mob drama Thursday, when prosecutors announced the strip joint's manager was swept up in one of the biggest illegal gambling dragnets in state history.
More than 50 members of the alleged scheme were charged as part of a massive bookmaking operation controlled by reputedGenovese crime family associate Robert "Elvis" D'Alessio, Bergen County Prosecutor John Molinelli said.
The two-month probe led to the seizure of six guns, piles of cocaine and marijuana, half a dozen cars and $3 million in New Jersey, New York and Florida.
"As an example of the size of this illegal enterprise, over $1 million per week in illegal wagers were being placed, and an average of $500,000 per week was being paid out and/or collected by D'Alessio and his co-conspirators," Molinelli said.
D'Alessio, 52, of Montville was charged with first-degree money-laundering and promoting gambling.
Also busted was Victor Cannestro, 36, who prosecutors said is the manager of the Satin Dolls club in Lodi.
Cannestro, who reportedly goes by the nickname "Vic the Suit," could not be reached for comment.
But when asked last year by the Philadelphia Inquirer if any real-life mobsters hung out at Satin Dolls, he said: "Oh, maybe a couple, every now and then. But we wouldn't know who they were."
