Joseph Queli, 65, of Wall admitted to acting as a loan shark for lending money to members of the International Longshoremen's Association local unions
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Joseph Queli, pictured in this 1998 Star-Ledger file photo, pleaded guilty today to his role in an alleged criminal enterprise that extorted money from dock workers.TRENTON — Two men pleaded guilty today for their roles in an alleged criminal enterprise that extorted money from dock workers by demanding cash for better jobs at the Port of New York and New Jersey, the Attorney General's Office said.
Joseph Queli, 65, of Wall admitted to acting as a loan shark for lending money to members of the International Longshoremen's Association local unions at the port at interest rates in excess of 50 percent, the office said in a news release.
The state will recommend Queli be sentenced to seven years in state prison, the release said. He will also forfeit $24,260 seized in the investigation, authorities said.
He and Nicholas Bergamotto, 64, of Newark, also admitted to demanding weekly payments from the union members, the release said. The state will recommend Bergamotto be sentenced to probation, the release said.
The two were arrested and charged in 2010 as a result of "Operation Terminal," an ongoing investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor into corruption at seaports in New Jersey.
Also charged was a top official in the longshoremen's union, Nunzio LaGrasso, 60, of Florham Park, and his nephew, Newark police officer Alan Marfia, 40, of Kenilworth. Their cases are still pending, the release said.
Every Christmas, workers would be forced to pony up hundreds or even thousands of dollars to get better shifts, more overtime or higher-paying assignments, according to authorities.
LaGrasso, secretary-treasurer of International Longshoremen's Association Local 1478, was charged with extortion and commercial bribery. His case is still pending, the release said.
Marfia was charged with official misconduct stemming from allegedly feeding LaGrasso information on undercover police cars used for surveillance near the union office.
Rocco Ferrandino, 69, of Lakewood was charged with extortion and commercial bribery because he allegedly collected some of the money from workers as part of the scheme, authorities said.
His case is also still pending, the release said.
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