MORRIS COUNTY — A Florham Park man was among eight members and associates of the Lucchese crime family — along with three companies — who admitted their roles in a racketeering, gambling, and money laundering operation on June 23, pleading guilty before Superior Court Judge Ralph E. Amirata in Morris County.
Joseph Gossweiler, 41, of Florham Park, a sportsbook sub-agent and poker club manager, pleaded guilty to third-degree conspiracy to promote gambling. He received a recommended sentence of 364 days probation.
Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) announced the pleas, which bring the total number of guilty pleas in the case to 35. Between October 2025 and June 2026, 27 others had previously pleaded guilty in connection with the illegal gambling enterprise.
The defendants were among 42 people indicted since initial arrests in April 2025, following a two-year investigation into illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and money laundering tied to the Lucchese crime family. The investigation identified $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds. Seven defendants still face pending charges and are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The gambling operation included social clubs housing live poker games and gaming machines, as well as an online sportsbook run through websites based outside the United States. Enterprise members used multiple shell corporations and legitimate businesses to conceal illegal proceeds.
Among those also pleading guilty were George Zappola, Joseph R. Perna, and John G. Perna — described as high-level managers and alleged Lucchese family members — each entering pleas to second-degree racketeering with a recommended sentence of seven years in state prison.
Other defendants and their pleas include:
- Wayne D. Cross, Lucchese associate — third-degree promoting gambling; five years recommended
- Michael P. Frasso, 48, of Cedar Grove — second-degree racketeering, failure to pay income tax, and corporate misconduct; aggregate recommendation of 15 years
- Frank Imparato, 46, of Saddle Brook — third-degree conspiracy; four years recommended
- Peter Norcia, 50, of Toms River — third-degree conspiracy to promote gambling; four years recommended
Three corporate entities also pleaded guilty: Café Gio (used by Imparato to facilitate gambling), Frasso Trucking (used to conceal gambling proceeds), and CJW Development and Consulting (used by Cross to conceal proceeds) — each entering second-degree conspiracy pleas carrying a $250,000 penalty.
The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Heather Hausleben and investigated by Detective Sergeant Michael Gallant of the NJSP. The FBI’s Newark, Red Bank, and New York City offices, the U.S. Marshals, Federal Probation, and the Department of Corrections Special Operations Group also contributed to the investigation.
Editor’s Note: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and/or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
