Three Plead Guilty in Philadelphia-based Gambling Ring; Bets Taken in Monmouth County and Elsewhere

NEWARK – Three New York men pleaded guilty today to their roles in a gambling ring that was based in Philadelphia and took bets from people in Monmouth County and elsewhere, U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced.

Lewis Ackrish, 62, of the Bronx, his son Robert Ackrish, 27, of Staten Island, and Robert McAllister, 44, of Brooklyn, entered their guilty pleas before U.S. District Judge Joel A. Pisano. Sentencing is scheduled for July 31.

On March 14, three Monmouth County men involved in the gambling ring also pleaded guilty before Judge Pisano. They were Rosario Miraglia, 61, of Asbury Park, Wayne Passoff, 49, of Asbury Park, and John Squeo, 68, of Oak Hurst, who admitted that they took bets for the gambling operation from an individual who was cooperating with the FBI. Conversations surrounding the taking of bets and payments were recorded by the FBI cooperating witness.

All of the individuals identified above were charged in a one-count Indictment returned on Nov. 1, 2005, with running or participating in an illegal gambling business. Two other New York men who were also indicted, Michael Betancourt, 31, and Montell Ackrish, 35, the son of defendant Lewis Ackrish, remain fugitives.

According to the Indictment, all nine men participated in an illegal gambling ring based in Philadelphia. At the plea hearing today, Robert and Lewis Ackrish and McAllister admitted that between March 2001 and May 2001, they conducted an illegal gambling business out of Philadelphia. Additionally, all four acknowledged that they worked in the “wire room” where they received and recorded sports bets for the gambling operation. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard E. Constable III, the four took bets from bettors in the Monmouth County area and made more than $2,000 on any single day of the gambling operation ($2,000 is a statutory threshold, and is not an expression of the actual amount of gambling proceeds generated).

During the pleas of Miraglia, Passoff and Squeo, they admitted that they took bets in Monmouth County for the gambling operation, from a man who was cooperating with the FBI. Conversations surrounding the taking of bets and payments, were recorded by the FBI informant.

The gambling charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Parole has been abolished in the federal system. Defendants who are given custodial terms must serve nearly all that time.

Christie credited Special Agents of the FBI’s Atlantic City Resident Agency, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Leslie Wiser, Jr. in Newark for investigation of the case.

The Government is represented by Assistant US Attorney Richard E. Constable, III of the Special Prosecutions Division.

Defense Counsel:

Amelio Marino, Esq., New York, for Robert Ackrish, Lewis Ackrish, Robert McAllister and Lee Zeiger.

Anthony Iacullo, Esq., Nutley, for Miraglia

Kenneth Kayser, Esq., East Hanover, for Squeo

David Ruhnke, Esq. Newark, Wayne Passoff