Two plead guilty to bookmaking out of Borgata poker room

Two more defendants have pleaded guilty to gambling charges in a mob-linked, multimillion-dollar bookmaking operation that was run out of the high-stakes poker room of one of Atlantic City's casinos.
Nicholas Caltabiano, 25, of Brigantine, and Matthew Zambanini, 29, of Hockessin, Del., have admitted they worked as agents for the betting ring, according to a statement released yesterday by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

Each faces a maximum of 364 days in county jail for his role in what State Police have dubbed "Operation High Roller."

Authorities allege that during a 20-month period the gambling operation generated about $60 million in bets while operating out of the poker lounge at the Borgata Casino Hotel & Spa.

The casino cooperated with the State Police investigation which included wiretaps, surveillance videos and informant testimony. The investigation ended with a series of arrests in November 2007.

Caltabiano and Zambanini entered their pleas during brief hearings before Atlantic County Superior Court Judge Michael Donio on Tuesday. To date, 17 defendants in the case, including the reputed leaders of the operation, have entered guilty pleas.

Jack Buscemi Jr., 51, of Mullica Hill, and Andrew Micali, 33, of Ventnor, each face up to five years in state prison based on their pleas to money-laundering and loansharking charges.

Buscemi was described as the boss of the betting ring while Micali ran the day-to-day operations.

Anthony Nicodemo, 37, a reputed South Philadelphia-based mob soldier, faces up to three years after pleading guilty to gambling and money-laundering charges.

Authorities said Nicodemo had a supervisor role in the operation.

Most of the other defendants have pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of promoting gambling that carries a maximum of just under one year in the county jail.