Gambling ring arrested

BY ALFONSO A. CASTILLO STAFF WRITER February 4, 2005 Investigators with the Suffolk district attorney's office have brought down a $21-million multistate gambling ring, arresting 20 men in New York City and Long Island and seizing more than $700,000 in cash, officials said Thursday. The alleged leader of the Brooklyn-based operation, Peter Moceo, was arrested Wednesday night in Manhattan and pleaded not guilty in District Court in Central Islip Thursday to charges of promoting gambling. He was released on $25,000 bail. Moceo, 45, who lives in Trump Tower in Manhattan, is the owner of "Rice to Riches," a Little Italy restaurant that sells 18 flavors of rice pudding. "This was probably one of the largest gambling operations ever in Suffolk County," said Thomas Spota, Suffolk County district attorney. According to investigators, Moceo and his father, also named Peter, 69, of Brooklyn, who was also arrested, took bets on football and basketball and took in an average of $60,000 a day. The operation allegedly drew betters from as far as Florida and California. Among the others arrested were Trump Tower concierge James Toron, 46, of Franklin Square; John Long, 41, of Port Jefferson, who allegedly ran the ring's Long Island operation; and a man who had his 9-year-old son relay point spreads on a cellular phone. The man, whom officials would not identify, is also charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Ten of the suspects are from Long Island -- eight of them from Suffolk. All but five of the suspects were arraigned on gambling charges Thursday. The remaining five are expected to be arraigned Friday. They all face up to 4 years in prison if convicted. The Associated Press contributed to this story.