NEW ROCHELLE – Ten people
have been indicted and arrested on charges stemming from the alleged operation
of a loan sharking and gambling controlled by the Lucchese organized crime
family.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation The Vig Is Up,” involved
the alleged loan sharking and bookmaking activities of alleged Lucchese
“made member” Dominick Capelli and alleged Lucchese “associates”
or “non-made” crew members in Westchester and the Bronx.
The loan sharking operation is the largest such operation ever investigated
by the New York State Attorney General’s Office with usurious interest
payouts of over $1 million just during the one-year investigation.
Investigators uses wiretaps, covert surveillance cameras, a car bug, undercover
police officers and hidden cameras to crack the case. Additional evidence
came from warrant searches.
Charged with crimes of usury and promoting gambling were:
• Dominick Capelli, 61, of New Rochelle
• Robert Wagner, 59, of New Rochelle
• Frank McKiernan, 53, of New Rochelle
• Anthony Martino, 76, of Port Chester
• Michael Wagner, 63, of the Bronx
• Steve Murray, 49, of Bethel, CT
• Seth Trustman, 36, of the Bronx
• Richard Caccavale, 59, of Yorktown Heights
• Jessica Bismark, 32, of New Rochelle
• Robert Wagner, Jr. 33, of New Rochelle
The enterprise corruption charge alone carries a maximum of 8 1/3 to 25
years in prison.
Two related indictments were also filed in conjunction with the investigation.
A separate bookmaking indictment charged Michael Lepore, 61, and Vincent
Tardibuono, 41, both of New Rochelle with running an online bookmaking
operation that generated over $1.5 million in annual wagers.
A related narcotics indictment was filed by the Westchester County District
Attorney’s Office charging Lucien Cappello, 38, of New Rochelle,
with seven counts each of criminal sale and possession of a controlled
substance.
If convicted, he faces 10 years in state prison and five years of post-release
supervision.
