Ronald Ayes (pictured) and John Reyes Received the Most Charges of Those Arrested
Authorities from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Florida combined on “Operation Rock Bottom”, a 10-month investigation into illegal offshore gaming sites and high-interest street loans. This past week, the authorities arrest eight individuals for what they call “mob-run gambling and loansharking” operations. The 4-state resources were part of a concerted effort to curtail organized crime in the areas Rock Bottom involved.
Investigators seized computers and records used for illegal gambling operations, along with $750,000 cash. Search warrants were issued in Fort Lauderdale and Orange County, Florida; Franklin Square, New York; Matamoras, Pennsylvania; and Rockland in Bergen County, New Jersey.
Promotion of Gambling and Money Laundering
Operation Rock Bottom, which should not be confused with a 2014 South Florida wildlife trafficking investigation by the same name, netted 8 suspects. From certain comments made by investigators, more suspects might be arrested in the near future.
All eight of the people arrested are alleged to have collected bets from gamblers, while also pressuring people who borrowed money at 25% or more interest rates to make payments. The debt collectors are thought to have pressured people to make weekly or bi-weekly payments.
Sports Betting Operations
Dominic Crispino, a Rockland prosecutor, says that the gambling website involved sports betting. Gamblers were given a user name and password which allowed them to make wagers on football and basketball games. Crispino said that those charged with crimes in the case were responsible for monitoring the gambling activity on the sportsbetting site, then collecting money from losing bettors and paying out winnings.
Four of the people arrested in Operation Rock Bottom were taken in Rockland. Officials said that investigators also were active in Westchester County, but they declined to provide details of that activity. That might imply that more arrests could be forthcoming in Westchester County, New Jersey.
Scott Ugell Arraigns All 8 Men
Clarkstown Justice Scott Ugell arraigned all 8 suspects. The Regional Investigative Resource Center/Organized Crime Unit was the task force which handled the investigation and arrest. The Regional Investigative Crime Unit involves the state police of New York and Pennsylvania, the NYPD Asset Forfeiture Unit, prosecutors offices in Bergen County, prosecutors in Florida, and the Rockland police department.
The arrests come as potential follow-up to 21 arrests made late last year, as well as the March 2015 arrests of Michael Palazzolo of Suffern and mob captain Daniel Pagano of Ramapo. Pagano is the son of Joseph Pagano, a late mafia kingpin with a reputation in New Jersey and New York.
Those with Alleged Involvement
The men invoved in the arrests are Ronald Ayes, 71-year old resient of South Nyack; Nicholas Farese, a 51-year old resident of Nanuet; John Reyes, a 72-year old citizen of Monsey; Anthony Moschella, a 75-year old man from Valley Cottage; Mark Moschella, a 52-year old resident of New Jersey; Richard Herman, a 75-year old from Manhattan; Peter Reda, a 57-year old man from Franklin Square; and Vincenzo Reda, a 34-year old resident of Franklin Square.
Seven of the man (all but Mark Moschella) are charged with first-degree promotion gambling, first-degree possession of gambling records, and fourth-degree money laundering. In addition, Ronald Ayes and John Reyes are accused of second-degree criminal usury. Meanwhile, Mark Moschella stands accused of fourth-degree money laundering, as well as a misdemeanor county of second-degree promoting gambling.
Ayes and Reyes Face Heavier Charges
From the charges, it would seem as if the septugenarian Ronald Ayes and John Reyes are the ringleaders in the high-interest loans case. Offering money as short-term high-interest loans exceeding 25% is illegal in all 50 states. In the Middle Ages, “usury” was a term for predatory loans, and the term still applies today. What was once a sin is now a felony.
Given the mob ties in the earlier case and the conduct of the men involved in the latest arrests, the authorities believe the men arrested are mobsters. Loansharking is a practice often depicted in movies and TV series, always in an unsavory light. Given the use of intimidation and harassment, it is no wonder.
