Mortician Convicted of Running Illegal Poker Games

A Staten Island, New York mortician has been convicted of running illegal poker games and could be sentenced up to 16 months behind bars.

Joseph Fumando, 42, was found guilty after a jury deliberated for just 20 minutes.

According to the New York Daily News, the feds launched a probe of the gambling operation in 2010 after the Queens district attorney’s office picked up NYPD undercover narcotics Detective Richard Palase on a wiretap blabbing about an illegal gambling club in Staten Island, according to court papers.  13 suspects including Fumando, Palase, a retired NYPD sergeant, and two firefighters were arrested for their role in the illegal gambling business.

The operators of the game pocketed at least a 5% cut from every bet wagered, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Nasson stated in court papers.

Fumando could lose his mortician license.

- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com