New Jersey Mayor Wanted in Connection to International Gambling Ring

One time former mayor of Union City, New Jersey and Assemblyman, Rudy Garcia, is wanted in connection to a major tri-state area sting that netted around 70 people on Wednesday.

"He has not surrendered only because he is out of town on business and we are just making arrangements," said attorney Stephen Turano of Newark, who is representing Garcia.

"He had absolutely nothing to do with the operation of, or promoting of, gambling. He may have placed some bets, but that's the extent of it," said Turano, adding that Garcia is "a juicy target."

The attorney said he has not yet been informed of the charges, but said it's likely he and Garcia will go to the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office tomorrow and deal with the issue. An official familiar with the case told The Jersey Journal that Garcia will be charged with money laundering.

Others charged Wednesday included two former New York City detectives, one of whom worked in the Organized Crimes Division, a former Wall Street stock broker, a postal worker who took bets from the post office and a secretarial coordinator at the midtown law firm of Paul Hastings. 

A Gambling911.com source advised that "Everybody (meaning law enforcement) is doing their big push for the final four."

On a smaller scale we would see these events leading up to Super Bowl.  Now it's March Madness.

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Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com

Originally published March 29, 2007