New Jersey Man Pleads Guilty in Philadelphia Mob Case

PHILADELPHIA (Associated Press) — A New Jersey man has pleaded guilty in a Philadelphia mob case to charges he participated in an illegal gambling and health benefits conspiracy.

Federal prosecutors say 45-year-old Caldwell, N.J., resident Louis Fazzini pleaded guilty Friday to participating in a racketeering conspiracy involving illegal gambling and theft from an employee benefit plan.

Fazzini admitted he operated a sports bookmaking business and devised a fraudulent scheme to obtain health benefits through a "no-show" job. Sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 17.

He was among 14 members and associates of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra family charged with crimes involving racketeering conspiracy, extortion, loan sharking, illegal gambling and other counts in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in July.

Trial for seven of the defendants is set to start next week.