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Attorney General Charges 39 in Major Racketeering and Illegal Gambling

By
Frank Cahill
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Photo for illustration purposes only. The actual incident may not reflect the photo.

TRENTON — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, alongside the Division of Criminal Justice and New Jersey State Police, announced charges against 39 individuals, including alleged members and associates of the Lucchese Crime Family, for their involvement in a large-scale racketeering and illegal gambling enterprise operating throughout North Jersey.

Among those charged is Anand Shah, a 42-year-old Prospect Park Councilman, who is accused of managing illegal poker games and an online sportsbook connected to the crime family. The investigation, which spanned over two years, culminated in executing search warrants at 12 locations on April 9, including poker clubs in Totowa, Garfield, and Woodland Park—some concealed behind operating restaurants.

Authorities uncovered more than $3 million in suspected criminal proceeds and the use of shell corporations and legitimate businesses to launder the funds. The operation included poker clubs, gambling machines, and an online sportsbook managed by agents and sub-agents who allegedly funneled proceeds to upper management within the Lucchese Crime Family.

High-ranking members charged include:

  • George J. Zappola, 65, of Red Bank – identified as part of the Lucchese ruling panel
  • Joseph R. “Big Joe” Perna, 56, of Belleville – Lucchese captain
  • John G. Perna, 47, of Little Falls – Lucchese soldier
  • Wayne D. Cross, 75, of Spring Lake – Lucchese soldier

Local defendants include:

  • Ralph Gibilisco, 65, and Linda Gibilisco, 60, both of East Hanover – Poker club manager and employee
  • Frank Gallipoli III, 57, and Robert M. Filippini, 54, both of Wayne – Club manager and sub-agent
  • Joseph J. Gossweiler, 41, of Florham Park – Poker club manager and sportsbook sub-agent
  • Joan E. Santana-Suarez, 42, of Dover – Sportsbook sub-agent and poker host
  • Steven M. Romano, 43, of Lincoln Park – Sportsbook sub-agent

In addition to gambling and racketeering charges, two individuals – Frank Gallipoli III and Ali Radwan, 53, of Woodland Park – are charged with third-degree theft for allegedly shoplifting $22,000 in merchandise from Home Depot to renovate properties used to launder criminal proceeds.

Charges range from first-degree racketeering to fourth-degree gambling offenses. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“This case demonstrates the continued threat organized crime poses to our communities,” said Attorney General Platkin. “This was not a victimless operation—it involved criminal profits, shell companies, and exploitation.”

The case is being prosecuted by the Division of Criminal Justice under Deputy Attorneys General Heather Hausleben and William Cooper-Daub.

For those struggling with gambling addiction, help is available at 1-800-GAMBLER or by visiting the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement’s website for legal operators and support resources.

Boonton Township to Host Rockaway River Clean-Up

By
Frank Cahill
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Volunteers will gather to take part in Rockaway River Clean-Up, helping to preserve the local environment one bag at a time.

BOONTON TOWNSHIP — The Boonton Township Recreation Department invites residents and community members to roll up their sleeves and join the Rockaway River Clean-Up on Saturday, April 26, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Volunteers are asked to meet at 31 Rockaway Drive, where they will begin walking along the river to collect trash and beautify the area. Participants are encouraged to bring gloves and bags.

The event is open to all, and Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops are especially welcome to participate in this community effort. The clean-up initiative will focus on sections of the Rockaway River and surrounding areas throughout Boonton Township.

“This is a great opportunity for residents to get involved, give back to the environment, and work together as a community,” organizers said.

Anyone with questions is encouraged to contact the Recreation Director at [email protected].

If you can’t attend, the township encourages residents to still do their part—pick up litter whenever you can and always remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Authorities Confirm Investigation into Route 10 Crash Involving Multiple Fatalities

By
Frank Cahill
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Emergency responders on the scene of a fatal multi-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 10 and Millbrook Avenue in Randolph on Thursday, April 10. The collision resulted in three adult fatalities and multiple injuries, including two children.

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, and Randolph Police Chief Will Harzula confirm an active investigation into a fatal motor vehicle crash that occurred the afternoon of Thursday, April 10, on Route 10 in Randolph.

At approximately 3:20 p.m., first responders were notified of a multi-vehicle crash on Route 10 at the intersection with Millbrook Avenue. The preliminary investigation revealed a four-vehicle crash. Among the involved vehicles was a school minivan occupied by students and employees.

At this time, it can be confirmed that there are three adult fatalities as a result of this crash. Two children injured in this crash have been transported to local hospitals for care. Two adults were treated at the scene.

The deceased are:

• Bertha Castaneda, 67, of Dover
• Diane Goetz, 71, of Randolph
• Maria Z. Figueroa, 58, of Wharton – Click here for the GoFundMe page.

Castaneda and Figueroa traveled in a school vehicle registered to Alyft Transport LLC, transporting students for P.G. Chambers in Cedar Knolls.

Dexsel Reyes Granados, a 4-year-old boy with special needs who was involved in a horrific crash yesterday in Randolph, has died, a family member said this afternoon.

Dexsel Reyes Granados, 4, Hackettstown, was in a vehicle that was hit by a car. He is now in critical condition at Morristown Hospital, fighting for his life. His injuries are severe, and the road to recovery—if even possible—will be long and uncertain. Click here for the GoFundMe page.

UPDATE: Two children were taken to local hospitals. One of them, Yexsel, attended P.G. Chambers and was rushed to Morristown Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead earlier today.

The Randolph Police Department, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit, and Morris County Sheriff’s Office CSI Unit are conducting the investigation. The investigation remains ongoing, and no other information is available. Additional information will be provided at the appropriate juncture.

Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said, “While we cannot disclose many details on the circumstances of this crash at this time, I can say this is a horrible tragedy for the Morris County community and beyond. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives and with those whose lives will undoubtedly be impacted by their loss. We ask that residents exercise discretion with what they share online, as this incident may be deeply traumatic for those in the community.”

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is urged to call the Randolph Township Police Department at (973) 989-7000 or the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crime Unit at (973) 285-6200.

Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Captain Graduates FBI National Academy

By
Frank Cahill
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Captain Joseph Costello of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office proudly graduates from the 293rd session of the FBI National Academy on March 13, 2025—joining an elite group of law enforcement leaders from across the globe.

MORRIS COUNTY — On March 13, 2025, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Captain Joseph Costello joined the 244 law enforcement officers graduating from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

FBI Director Kash Patel delivered remarks at the ceremony for the 293rd session of the National Academy and presented graduates with their certificates. This session involved men and women from 48 states and the District of Columbia. The class included members of law enforcement agencies from 24 countries, 11 military organizations, and four federal civilian organizations.

Internationally known for its academic excellence, the National Academy consists of 10 weeks of advanced communication, leadership, and fitness training. The training is provided by instructors, special agents, and other staff with advanced degrees, and many instructors are recognized internationally in their fields. Academy participants with proven records as agency professionals are permitted to enroll. On average, these officers have 21 years of law enforcement experience.

Captain Costello is only the eighth Morris County Prosecutor’s Office member to have completed the FBI National Academy since it began in 1935.

Homeless Solutions Dreams Big with New CEO at 25th Annual Dream Builders’ Bash

By
Frank Cahill
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Knights of Columbus #359 members John O’Reilly, Edward Thorton, and Mike Wilkey; NJ State Assemblywoman Aura Dunn; HSI Chief Executive Officer Jaclyn Stoll; Knights of Columbus #359 Grand Knight William Kostyak; Boye Foundation representative Kathryn Mancini; NJ State Senator Anthony Bucco; Boye Foundation representatives Anastasia Ireland and Sarah Gregory; HSI Chief Development Officer Stephanie Cicale.

MORRIS COUNTY — Homeless Solutions recently celebrated its 25th Annual Dream Builders’ Bash on Friday, March 28th.

The Bash is the non-profit’s most significant yearly fundraiser. It supports the shelter programs and services it offers to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in Morris County regain their independence.

This year’s event, “Dream Big, Build Bigger,” celebrated the power of community and honorees who’ve shown extraordinary dedication to HSI. The evening was filled with beautiful tributes and touching stories and was also an introduction of Homeless Solutions’ new CEO Jaclyn Stoll to the steadfast supporters in attendance.

The evening’s honorees included Bob and Nancy Boye of The Boye Foundation, who were given our Dream Builder Award for their decades of philanthropic support to HSI. The Knights of Columbus #359 George Washington Council were awarded the Mary E. Van Kirk Volunteer Spirit Award for their years of dedicated volunteerism to the organization.

An inspirational part of the night came from our guest speaker, PG, a graduate of our Transitional Housing Program who told her story as a single working mother who lost her home to rising Morris County rents. This narrative is becoming all too familiar as we see the waitlist for affordable housing increase exponentially in our community.

She praised HSI’s staff for supporting her, including helping her access much-needed resources that she initially didn’t even know were available. Our THP graduate should also be commended for the intense effort she put forth to secure stability for her family. She took advantage of every opportunity, workshop, and program that she could to help her in her journey back to independence. As she said, “The HSI programs work if you do your part and never give up.”

The Bash guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner, dancing, raffles, silent and live auctions at The Westin Governor Morris in Morristown. HSI CEO Jaclyn Stoll had the pleasure of being joined by local dignitaries such as Senator Anthony Bucco, Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, Morris County Commissioner Christine Meyers, present and past HSI Board of Trustees, and 275 attendees who all came to support HSI’s critical mission of empowering those who are homeless or at risk to attain housing stability. Celebrating 25 years of support for the Dream Builders’ Bash was a beautiful evening, with over $5.3 million raised since its inception in 2000.

Homeless Solutions philosophy is “A Hand Up, not a Handout.” Homeless Solutions has been helping the homeless and at-risk in our community as a private, nonprofit organization since 1983. We are unique in what we do. It’s not just about providing a healthy meal and a place to sleep. They aim to give those we serve the tools and surroundings they need to rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient. What sets our nonprofit apart from others is our continuum of housing options, including our main shelter, Transitional Housing Program (THP) for families, Warming Center for street homeless in the winter, Mt. Kemble Home for senior women, Women’s Campus for single women in shared housing, and the Affordable Rental Housing units we own and operate – in all 136 units of affordable homes for Morris County residents.

For more information on how you can support Homeless Solutions, click here.

Two East Hanover Students Inducted into Prestigious Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

By
Frank Cahill
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The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, founded in 1897, is the oldest, most selective, and most prestigious all-discipline honor society, recognizing and encouraging superior scholarship across all fields of study.

EAST HANOVER — Two standout students from East Hanover have been elected to The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Emma Costa, a student at Florida State University, and Savvas Savvides, a student at Virginia Tech, were both recently inducted in recognition of their academic excellence.

Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only and is extended to the top 10 percent of seniors and graduate students and the top 7.5 percent of juniors. It is one of the most distinguished academic honors a student can receive. Approximately 20,000 students, faculty, and alumni across the country are initiated each year.

Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi has chapters on more than 300 college campuses in the United States, its territories, and the Philippines. The organization’s mission is to “cultivate a community that celebrates and advances the love of learning.”

For more information, visit www.PhiKappaPhi.org.

Boonton Township Recreation to Host Annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 12

By
Frank Cahill
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BOONTON TOWNSHIP — Get ready for some springtime fun! Boonton Township Recreation will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, beginning promptly at 10:00 a.m. at the RVA Fields Playground. Please note, the event will not be held at Leonard Park.

Children are encouraged to bring their Easter baskets and come prepared to hunt for colorful eggs filled with treats and surprises. The event promises fun for the whole family and is a great way to celebrate the season.

In inclement weather, the Easter Egg Hunt will be rescheduled for Friday, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. at the same location.

Don’t miss this festive community tradition!

Golfers Unite to Build Forever Homes for Adults with Special Needs

By
Frank Cahill
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File photo

PARSIPPANY — Rose House, a nonprofit organization that creates forever homes for people with developmental disabilities throughout Morris County, is excited to announce its 9th annual “Day of Dreams” golf event.

This year’s outing will occur on Monday, July 14, at the Knoll Country Club West, 990 Greenbank Road, Boonton.

Funds from this event will support Rose House’s “Forever Home Project.” This capital campaign aims to develop a new affordable housing complex for adults with special needs. Once completed, it will provide safe housing for 12 individuals receiving around-the-clock care. The complex will be in Chester Township at the former Glenlora Nursing Home site.

“We’re thrilled to announce that this new development will be our seventh forever home and our first in the beautiful Chester Township,” said Rose House CEO Tom Mitchell. “By playing golf, our community can make a significant difference in the lives of those with special needs.”

The Day of Dreams event will feature a golf tournament with contests and prizes, a cocktail hour, a luncheon with a silent auction, and raffles. The silent auction will also be held virtually, allowing anyone to participate. Check-in begins at 6:30 a.m., with the tournament starting at 8:00 a.m. The registration fee, which includes the luncheon, is $275 per golfer or $1,100 per foursome. The tournament is limited to 100 participants, and the registration deadline is July 7.

To register as a golfer, become a sponsor, or make a general donation, please visit Rose House’s official golf event by clicking here.

Please call (973) 984-0006, x121 or email [email protected] for more information about this event.

Rose House, a non-profit organization headquartered in Morris Plains, creates forever homes that make dreams come true for those with special needs throughout Morris County. It offers customized, self-directed programs to meet every need. The organization’s vision is a future inclusive community where everyone has a loving home. For more information, click here.

Former Nurse Sentenced in Connection with Death of Disabled Man

By
Frank Cahill
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Morris County Prosecutor

MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Chief of Detectives Robert McNally, and East Hanover Police Chief Christopher Cannizzo confirmed a former licensed nurse has been sentenced in connection with the death of a disabled man, who passed away on February 10, 2023 shortly after being transported on his school bus.

On February 25, 2025, Emilio J. Rivera, 30, of Carlstadt, pled guilty to one count of Endangering Another Person, a crime of the third degree, and one count of Neglect of a Disabled Person, a crime of the third degree, before Judge Ralph Amirata, J.S.C.

On April 4, 2025, Rivera was sentenced by Judge Amirata to 3 years’ probation conditioned upon 90 days in the Morris County Correctional Facility, with up to 45 days to be served in the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program (SLAP). Defendant was ordered to have no contact with the victim’s family. Rivera also consented to the revocation of his nursing license.

The charges stem from a 9-1-1 call on February 10, 2023 in East Hanover. Police and emergency personnel were called to a residence on a report of an unconscious male. The man, Matthew Rossi, 19, who was wheelchair bound and non-verbal, had just arrived home on the bus from his school. EMS personnel and East Hanover Police officers attempted CPR and other life-saving intervention. The victim was subsequently pronounced deceased.

In keeping with policy, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and East Hanover Police Department conducted an investigation into the circumstances of the victim’s death. Subsequent investigation revealed the victim was accompanied on the bus by a licensed nurse, Rivera. Rivera was legally responsible for the care of Matthew, and neglected to perform certain acts necessary for the victim’s care which created a substantial risk of serious bodily injury.

Members of the East Hanover Police Department, Morris County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigation unit, and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit participated in the investigation and prosecution.

Morris County Superior Court Judge Enters Order Restraining Local Gadfly and Former Police Officer Rico Gonzalez from Disparaging Town Officials

By
Frank Cahill
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Richard “Rico” Gonzalez, the former Dover police officer currently at the center of a legal dispute with the Town of Dover over alleged violations of a 2015 non-disparagement agreement.

DOVER — As previously reported, the Town of Dover has filed an action against Ricardo “Rico” Gonzalez – a local gadfly, former Dover police officer, and Mount Olive resident.  The Town had repeatedly warned Gonzalez that his repeated insulting and disparaging comments, which he has continuously posted online against Dover employees and elected officials, violated the terms of his 2015 settlement agreement with the Town in which he accepted $175,000 and other consideration in exchange for dismissal of his claims and a mutual non-disparagement agreement.  (Click here to read the previous article)

On Friday, April 4, 2025, after oral argument, Superior Court Judge Noah Franzblau, Esq. granted the Town emergency relief to enforce the non-disparagement clause. The ruling not only bars Gonzalez from making further public remarks deemed disparaging toward the Town and its officials, but it also signals a firm stance on the enforceability of settlement terms entered into by municipal employees.

The Town’s complaint and emergent relief action were filed by its labor attorney, Jonathan F. Cohen, Esq., of Plosia Cohen LLC in Parsippany.  Gonzalez is represented by Richard Flaum and the law firm of DiFrancisco Bateman – the same firm that negotiated the 2015 non-disparagement clause on Gonzalez’s behalf, which clause they now claim is overbroad and unenforceable.  In response to the Town’s Order to Show Cause, Gonzalez’s attorneys argued that enforcement of the 2015 agreement’s terms would violate Gonzalez’s rights to free speech and political expression. He cited recent case law and the Uniform Public Expression Protection Act (UPEPA), a statute designed to shield individuals from lawsuits intended to suppress protected speech. He sought attorney’s fees against the Town.

After a raucous oral argument in which his attorney repeatedly challenged the judge, the Court issued a written decision in favor of the Town.  The decision granted restraints on Gonzalez’s disparaging comments. It opened the door for the Town to seek to recover the $175,000 in contractual payments it made to Gonzalez in future proceedings in the same case. 

The Superior Court ruling affirms the Town’s legal right to defend its reputation and protect its officials from reputational harm. Morris County Superior Court Judge Noah Franzblau, J.S.C., stated, “Dover demonstrated a “reasonable probability of success on the merits,” its elected officials and employees had suffered from Gonzalez’s social media remarks, including name-calling and corruption accusations.  The judge further found that the Legislature did not design UPEPA to prevent governmental employers from enforcing breach of contract claims.

An email to Richard Flaum and the law firm of DiFrancisco Bateman seeking comment went unanswered.

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