Office of the
Attorney General
David Samson, Attorney General
Division of Criminal Justice
Peter C. Harvey, Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
John R. Hagerty, Division of Criminal Justice
(609) 984-1936
David Greenfield, Waterfront Commission
(212) 742-9280
March 7, 2002
DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE & WATERFRONT
COMMISSION
OF NEW YORK HARBOR
TARGET MOB-RUN SHAKE-DOWN ON NEW JERSEY DOCKS
Reputed Waterfront Faction Of Genovese Crime
Family & Dock Worker’s Union
Demand $$$ For Work - Seven Arrested In Early Morning Roundup -
Port Newark - First Assistant Attorney General and Director of the
Division of Criminal Justice Peter C. Harvey and Thomas DeMaria,
Executive Director of the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor,
today announced the arrest of seven individuals identified as either
reputed associates of the New York-based Genovese organized crime
family and/or current and former officials of the International Longshoreman's
Association (ILA) Local #1588 on charges related to a "money
for work" shake-down of dock workers at various New Jersey waterfront
shipping terminals.
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Criminal Justice Director Peter C. Harvey
and Waterfront Commission Executive Director Thomas DeMaria announce
the arrest of seven individuals on charges related to a "money
for work" shake-down of dock-workers.
Pictured are (l-r): Philip C. Spinelli, Peter C. Harvey, Thomas
Demaria, Vaughn McKoy, Michael McGaughran, Victoria Vreeland,
Christopher Romanyshyn.
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According to Criminal Justice Director Harvey and Commission Executive
Director DeMaria, today’s early morning arrests signal the opening
salvo of a sweeping investigation targeting union/labor corruption
and organized crime influence on the New Jersey waterfront. The investigation
is focusing on allegations that current and former union representatives
and Genovese crime family associates demanded money from the ILA membership
in return for prime job assignments, training for higher paying jobs
and overtime assignments.
"In contrast to a series of New York Sun newspaper articles published
in 1949, the Division of Criminal Justice and the Waterfront Commission
of New York Harbor have employed vigilance and intensive investigative
measures since 1953 to make the New Jersey waterfront a place where
workers can earn an honest living and where so-called gangsters can
earn a trip to jail," Director Harvey said.
"Today, the Division of Criminal Justice and the Waterfront Commission
of New York Harbor have uncovered evidence that corruption, organized
crime influence and other illegal activity has attempted to control
the way business is done at Hudson River shipping terminals. Our actions
demonstrate very clearly that we intend to end these practices and
to return fair employment opportunities and dignity to dockworkers," Harvey
added.
"These arrests mark the latest and continuing effort of the Waterfront
Commission to rid the waterfront in the Port of New York/New Jersey
from the influence of criminality and economic terrorism," Director
DeMaria said. "Ever since the Waterfront Commission's inception
in 1953, our staff has screened, registered and licensed the dock labor
force in the Port. The Commission has spearheaded and actively participated
with various state, federal and local law enforcement authorities in
a multitude of successful investigations which have led to criminal
prosecutions and administrative action against waterfront-related crime
figures. As a result, the fate of the honest dock worker and the vitality
and security of the Port has vastly improved since the 'bad old' days
and will continue to improve as a result of today's events."
Joining Director Harvey and Director DeMaria in announcing the arrests
were James Vanderberg, Assistant Special Agent-In-Charge, New Jersey
Field Office, U.S. Department of Labor, Philip C. Spinelli, Chief of
the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor Police Department, David
Greenfield, Secretary and Director of Litigation and Larry Lezak, Director
of Law, Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor and Anne M. Kriegner,
Chief State Investigator, New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice.
According to the law enforcement officials, state investigators assigned
to the Division of Criminal Justice Organized Crime North Unit and
Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor detectives and police officers
conducted early morning raids, arresting the seven targeted individuals
at their residences and other previously identified locations. The
arrests took place without any significant incident. Each defendant
has been charged with racketeering, extortion, bribery and conspiracy.
The defendants are identified as:
- Nicholas Furina, 70, 2 Springdale Lane, Warren, NJ. Identified as
a reputed associate of the Genovese organized crime family waterfront
faction and employed as the Hiring Agent for P&O Ports of North
America, Inc. in Jersey City. The investigation has identified Furina
as the reputed "boss" of the criminal enterprise. Furina
has been additionally charged as a Leader of Organized Crime;
- Ralph Esposito, 49, 110 Priscilla Drive, Lincroft, NJ. Reputed associate
of the Genovese organized crime family waterfront faction and employed
as the Union Shop Steward for ILA Local #1588 at Global Terminal located
in Port Jersey, Jersey City;
- Anthony D'Errico, 62, 584 Madison Drive, Monroe Township, NJ. Reputed
associate of the Genovese organized crime family waterfront faction
and employed as Field Boss of the ILA Local #1588 at Global Terminal;
- Aniello 'Sonny' Bello, 66, 74 West 7th Street, Bayonne, NJ. Reputed
associate of the Genovese organized crime family waterfront faction
and employed as Hiring Agent at Global Terminal;
- John Timpanaro, 45, 108 Marvin Road, Middletown, NJ. Reputed associate
of the Genovese organized crime family waterfront faction and employed
as President of ILA Local #1588;;
- Carlo Bilancione, 67, 15 Huber Court, Hightstown, NJ. Reputed associate
of the Genovese organized crime family waterfront faction and a former
Field Boss of ILA Local #1588 at Global Terminal. The Waterfront Commission
had previously revoked Bilancione's employment registration;
- Nicholas Romano,47, 18 Old Farm Road, Warren, NJ. Reputed associate
of the Genovese organized crime family waterfront faction and a former
Shop Steward of the ILA Local #1588 at Global Terminal. The Waterfront
Commission had previously revoked Romano's employment registration
and removed him from his union-related position.
The defendants are scheduled for a first appearance and bail hearing
later today before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Kevin G. Callahan.
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Criminal Justice Director Peter C. Harvey
and Waterfront Commission Executive Director Thomas DeMaria announce
the arrest of seven individuals on charges related to a "money
for work" shake-down of dock-workers.
Pictured are (l-r): Philip C. Spinelli, Peter C. Harvey, Thomas
Demaria, Vaughn McKoy, Michael McGaughran, Victoria Vreeland,
Christopher Romanyshyn.
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Director DeMaria noted that the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor
initiated the investigation and the Division of Criminal Justice joined
the probe in October, 2000. Over the past 18 months, the investigation
utilized undercover investigative techniques, video surveillance and
other sophisticated investigative procedures as state investigators
worked to uncover the various illegal schemes and activities.
As the investigation progressed, Furina was identified as the "boss" of
the alleged criminal enterprise. Through extortion and the withholding
of premium job assignments, it is alleged that Furina and the other
defendants demanded kickbacks and cash payments from dozens of Local
#1588 members. Workers seeking better paying positions or job-related
benefits who did not submit to the extortion demands were denied the
better paying opportunities or advanced training.
Director Harvey said that the arrests of the defendants represent
a new phase in the investigative strategy and that, in the interests
of investigative security and pursuant to established court requirements,
the Division of Criminal Justice and Waterfront Commission of New York
Harbor are limited in discussing specific details regarding the alleged
conspiracy and ongoing investigation. The next phase of the process
is to present the allegations and charges to the State Grand Jury for
possible indictment.
Director's Harvey and DeMaria credited the work of the Division of
Criminal Justice state investigators assigned to the Organized Crime
North Unit, the Waterfront Commission detectives and police officers
and the representatives from the U.S. Department of Labor for their
work in pursuing the continuing and often complicated investigation.
Division of Criminal Justice Deputy Attorney General Christopher Romanyshyn
was assigned to the investigation and appeared in Hudson County Superior
Court on behalf of the Division of Criminal Justice.
Supervising State Investigator Victoria Vreeland and State Investigator
Jennifer Tempel from the Division of Criminal Justice, along with Waterfront
Commission of New York Harbor case detectives Stephen Cohen and William
Hamalainen, coordinated the investigative efforts.
All persons charged with criminal complaints are presumed innocent
unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Copies of the arrest warrants, charge information and the press release
are available via the Division of Criminal Justice Web Page at www.NJDCJ.org.
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