| Credit: Slate Magazine |
Federal authorities fanned out across New York and New Jersey today and rounded up 30 reputed members and associates of several organized crime families on charges of racketeering and extortion relating to the waste-hauling industry, the Bergen Record reports.
Among those charged were Carmine Franco, 77, of Ramsey, once a major figure in the New Jersey trash hauling business; Anthony Cardinalle, 60, of Saddle River; Peter Leconte, 42, ofLodi; and Frank Oliver, 46, of North Haledon.
Also charged from New Jersey were Robert Zarzuela, 38, of North Bergen; Jonathan Greene, 47, of Teaneck; Thomas Giordano, 42, of North Arlington; Anthony Pucciarello, 77,Bloomfield, Joseph Bertolino, 46, Wantage; and Brian Petroll, 47, of Columbia.
In all, 32 people were charged in three indictments returned in Manhattan as part of a multi-year investigation spearheaded by the FBI.
In a statement, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said: “As alleged, organized crime still wraps its tentacles around industries it has fed off for decades, but law enforcement continues to pry loose its grip.”
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