# Appendix — Gerace v. New Jersey Casino Control Commission

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## Record

- **Collection:** Supreme Court brief
- **Document type:** Appendix
- **Published:** January 1, 1986
- **Citation:** 475 U.S. 1085

## Text

—_—_——

85-1308 Zi | at |
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Pen, ay a

NO.

s9OSEF , c > 4 ANMIOL, Jt.

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IN THE

0 ee ae ?

Supreme Court of the Hnited States

OCTOBER TERM, 1986

FRANK GERACE and FRANK MATERIO,
Petitioners,

Ve.

STATE OF NEW JERSEY CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION
and
STATE OF NEW JERSEY, DEPARTMENT OF
LAW AND PUBLIC SAFETY, DIVISION OF
GAMING ENFORCEMENT,
Respondents.

APPENDIX ACCOMPANYING
PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO
THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT

; RONALD F. KIDD (Counsel of Record)
STEVEN M. JANOVE

DUANE, MORRIS & HECKSCHER

1500 One Franklin Plaza
Philadelphia, PA 19102

(215) 854-6300

Zi

HARRY A. HORWITZ

DAVIS, REBERKENNY & ABRAMOWITZ
499 Cooper Landing Road

. Cherry Hill, NJ 08002

(609) 667-6000

Attorneys for Petitioners

y

January 30, 1986 /

APPENDIX TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Order of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
Order Denying Petition for Certi-
fication, November 1, 1985..... iveevenne oe

Opinion of the Superior Court of New
Jersey, Appellate Division
Opinion Affirming Decision of
Casino Control Commission,
JULY EL, TOSS. cecsevecsevrvesee TEeTrrir res + 28

Opinion of the New Jersey Casino Control
Commission
Opinion Disqualifying Frank Gerace
and Frank Materio, September 28,
berry Tere ra rere rec rs ve ree ee tee Te 113a

Order of the New Jersey Casino Control
Commission
Order Disqualifying Frank Gerace
And Frank Materio, September 28,
Pe» Pee ee ceevuss er oer as ert ere eh ea 259a

Order of the New Jersey Casino Control
Commission
Order Sanctioning Frank Gerace
And Frank Materio, September 12,
oP eeePeeE Tire CELLET CT eT o« eOa8

-la-
SUPREME COURT OF NEW JERSEY
C-217 SEPTEMBER TERM 1985
24,441
IN THE MATTER OF THE
REGISTRATION OF HOTEL AND:
RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES

INTERNATIONAL UNION
LOCAL 54

ON PETITION
FOR
CERTIFICATION
(Frank Gerace, Frank
Materio & Karlos LaSane)
Petitioners.
To the Appellate Division, Superior Court:

A petition for certification of the
judgment in A-993-82T3 A-317/525/880-84TS
having been submitted to this Court, and
the Court having considered the same;

It 1S ORDERED that the petition for
certification is denied with costs; and it
is further

ORDERED that the appeal filed in the

within matter is dismissed pursuant to R.

2:12-9.

-2a-

WITNESS, the Honorable Robert N.
Wilentz, Chief Justice, at Trenton, this
29th day of October, 1985.

FILED s/Stephen W. Townsend
Supreme Court,

November 1, 1985 CLERK OF THE SUPREME
COURT

-3a-

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT THE
APPROVAL OF THE COMMITTEE ON OPINIONS

SUPERIOR COURT OF NEW JERSEY
APPELLATE DIVISION
A-993-82T5
A-317-84TS5
A-525-84T5
A-880-84TS5

IN THE MATTER OF THE HOTEL
AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES AND
BARTENDERS INTERNATIONAL UNION

LOCAL 54

Argued February 21, 1985 - Decided

Before Judges Matthews, Furman and
Havey.

On appeal from an Order of the New
Jersey Casino Control Commission.

Michael N. Katz argued the cause for
Hotel and Restaurant Employees and
Bartenders International Union Local
54 (Meranze and Katz, attorneys;
Bernard N. Katz, of counsel).

Ronald F. Kidd, admitted pro hac vice,
argued the cause for appellants
Gerace, Materio and LaSane (Duane,
Morris & Heckscher, attorneys; Steven

——————

-4a-

M. Janove, and Harry Horwitz of Davis,
Reberkenny & Abramowitz, of counsel).

John R. Zimmerman, Senior Assistant
Counsel, argued the cause for
respondent New Jersey Casino Control
Commission (Thomas N. Auriemma, Deputy
Director/Legal Division, and Leonard
J. DiGiacomo, Assistant Counsel, on
the brief).

Eugene M. Schwartz, Deputy Attorney
General, argued the cause for the
respondent State of New Jersey,
Division of Gaming Enforcement
(Anthony J. Parrillo, Assistant
Attorney General, of counsel; Gary A.
Ehrlich, Deputy Attorney General, of
counsel and on the brief with Mr.
Schwartz).

The opinion of the court was delivered
by MATTHEWS, P.J.A.D.

From June to September 1982, the
Casino Control Commission conducted
hearings to determine whether certain
officials of the Hotel and Restaurant
Employees and Bartenders International
Union Local 54 were disqualified under

Section 86 of the Casino Control Act,

N.J.S.A. 5:12-1 to N.J.S.A.,. 5:12-152 (the

act). Pursuant to Section 93(a) of that

-Sa-

act, Local 54 had filed an annual
registration statement with the

Commission. N.J.S.A. 5:12-93(a). The

Division of Gaming Enforcement was then
requested to review the credentials of the
Union and its personnel as mandated by

N.J.S.A. 5:12-94(a).

On May 11, 1982, the Division
submitted a letter report to the
Commission in which it urged that Section
93 sanctions be imposed against several
union members. Among the individuals said
to be disqualified by the act were the
President, Frank Gerace, and Business
Manager, Frank Materio. On April 30,
1982, the Division filed another report in
which it cited two additional union
employees, Eli Kirkland? and Karlos

LaSane, as disqualified under the act.

The Commission refused to impose
Section 93 sanctions against Eli
Kirkland.

:
|
:

-6a-

On September 28, 1982, the Commission
issued a determination in which it found
Gerace and Materio disqualified under
Section 86(f), and LaSane disqualified
under Section 86(c). The Commission
applied Section 93(b) which prohibits the
Union from receiving dues from its
employees or from administering pension or
welfare funds if any of its officers,
agents or principal employees is
disqualified by Section 86 of the act.

N.J.S.A.5:12-93(b).? Frank Gerace, Frank

Materio, Karlos LaSane and the union have
appealed the adverse decision.

Lecal 54 represents approximately
14,000 hotel workers, 10,000 of whom are
employed in casino hotels in Atlantic

City. The Local's members are employed in

The Commission chose not to apply
those Section 93 sanctions which would
have prohibited the Union from
administering pension and welfare
funds.

-7a-

non-gaming positions including waiters,
kitchen workers, bartenders, and porters.
In 1979 Frank Gerace was elected as
President of Local 54, and was re-elected
to that position in June 1982. As chief
executive officer, Gerace was authorized
to hire and discharge business agents,
oversee daily union activities, and engage
in collective bargaining on behalf of the
Local's members. Frank Materio became an
employee of Local 54 in mid-1978. On June
30, 1978, pursuant to a motion made by
Gerace, Materio was accepted by Local 54's
Executive Board as a union organizer.
Materio was appointed to the Executive
Board as trustee on January 16, 1979.
Karlos LaSane was employed by Local 54 on
May 4, 1981 to represent union members at
grievance hearings. LaSane also was

designated by Gerace as Local 54's

affirmative action officer.

-8a-

Section 86, of the act, N.J.S.A.

5:12-86, sets out the criteria under which
an applicant will be denied a license.
Among those criteria pertinent here are

subsections c- and f. N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(c)

mandates the disqualification of any
applicant who has been convicted of
certain enumerated crimes under New Jersey

law. N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(f) disqualifies any

applicant identified as a “career offender
Or a member of a career offender cartel"

or one who is “an associate of a career

offender or a career offender cartel in

such a manner which creates reasonable

belief that the association is of such a

nature as to be inimical to the policy of

this act...." (emphasis provided. )

N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(f). However Section

93(b) also permits the Commission, at its
discretion, to waive the disqualifying

Criteria. N.J.S.A. 5:12-93(b).

-Sa-

In its letter of May 11, 1982, the
Division alleged that Gerace and Materio
were disqualified under Section 86(f) by
reason of their association with certain
career offenders or career offender cartel
members. LaSane was claimed to be
disqualified under Section 86(c) by reason
of a prior criminal convection. Two
issues were directed to the Commission
with respect to Gerace and Materio:
first, whether Gerace and Materio were
associated with members of a career
offender cartel, and second, whether that
association was of such a nature so as to
create a reasonable belief that it was
inimical to the policy of the act and to
gaming operations. The issues directed to
the Commission with respect to LaSane were
whether he was an officer, agent or
principal employee of Local 54 within the
meaning of the act, and whether the

Commission should waive his

-10a-

disqualification as permitted by N.J.S.A.

§:12-93(b).

The Division presented extensive
evidence to suggest a relationship between
Gerace and Materio and career offenders,
especial one Nicodemo Scarfo. Testimony
at the 1982 hearings concerned Scarfo, the
Bruno crime family, and all possible
implications between Scarfo and Local 54
members. At the conclusion of the
testimony, the Commission made detailed
findings of fact regarding the possibility
of a relationship between the Union
officials and Scarfo, and its extent.

The Commission found that Nicodemo
Scarfo has led the Bruno organized crime
family since March 1981. The "Bruno
family," which operates in the
Philadelphia metropolitan area and
southern New Jersey, including Atlantic
City, was named after its former head,

Angelo Bruno. Bruno was murdered in March

-lla-

1960. Philip Testa assumed control of the
"family" following Brumo's death, until he
was murdered in March 1981.

The Commission also found that Scarfo
had a lengthy history of criminal
involvement, beginning in March 1950 when
he was convicted of setting up an illegal
lottery. He entered a plea of guilty to
involuntary manslaughter in 1964, and most
recently, was convicted of possession of a
firearm by a convicted felon in 1981. The
Commission concluded that Scarfo is a
career offender and am active member of a
career offender cartel.?

The Commission evaluated the evidence
concerning the relationship between Gerace
and Materio and Scarfo. It found six

areas in which an association between

Appellants now concede that Scarfo is
a career offender.

-l2a-

Scarfo and Local 54's officers is
evidenced.

The Division first submitted a
telephone list as indicative of Scarfo's
association with Gerace and Materio. The
telephone list was seized from Scarfo in
December 1979 following his arrest for the
murder of Vincent Falcone. Some of the
names on the list were aliases and many of
the numbers were encoded. After
deciphering the code, the law enforcement
officers determined that several encoded
names and numbers related to associates of
Scarfo who have been linked to organized
criminal winnie: Other names and
numbers listed in the book were not
encoded, such as dentists and attorneys.

The Commission determined that five
employees of Local 54 were listed in
Scarfo's phone book under aliases. Frank
Gerace was listed under the name "Percy,"

and his number was in code. Gerace's

-l3a-

mother was listed as "Percy Mom,” and
Susan Holland, Branch Manager of William
L. Meyers, Inc., Administrator of Local
54's Health and Welfare Fund, was listed
as "Percy Girl." Both women were listed
with coded numbers. Materio's number was
also on Scarfo's phone list. However,
Materio was listed by his proper name and
his numbers were uncoded. In addition,
Robert Lumio, Secretary-Treasurer of Local
54 from September 1979 to June 1981, and
Frank Lentino, Business Agent for Local 54
since 1981, were listed under aliases.

In December 1979, the police found
another piece of evidence indicative of
Scarfo's interest in Local 54. During
their investigation of the Falcone murder,
the police seized a piece of paper from
Scarfo's dresser drawer containing the
words:

KIS-POTS-GON ALL OUT BACK TO
54 ST. BEFORE FEB.

-l4a-

The Commission found that the note
referred to Thomas Kissick, Ernest Potts,
and Thomas "Goony" Walsh, and their
removal as union officials when Local 491
merged with Local 54 in September 1980.
The Commission held that the paper
evidenced both Scarfo's interest in the
unions, and his advance notice of the
union's activities.

The third basis of which the
Commission disqualified Gerace and Materio
involved the events leading to Scarfo's
arrest for the Falcone murder. Shortly
after their arrest, Scarfo and his two
associates, Leonetti and Merlino, were
released on $92,000 cash bail. Twenty
thousand dollars of that amount was
provided by Gerace's mother. At the
hearing, the Division presented
documentary evidence that half of Lillian
Gerace's contribution was supplied by

appellant Frank Gerace.

-15a-

In addition, after their release,
Materio put up his house as property bail
for Leonetti and Merlino, so that part of
the cash bail could be released. Despite
this, Materio testified that he did not
know Leonetti and Merlino personally and
that he agreed to use his home for bail as
a favor to Scarfo's mother, a personal
friend. Materio further testified that he
had known Scarfo for 25 years, although he
had only seen him 6 to 7 times in the
prior 5 years.

The Commission next relied on the
immunized testimony of Joseph Salerno.
Salerno is the principal witness against
Scarfo, Leonetti and Merlino in their
trial for the murder of Vincent Falcone.
Salerno was a plumber in New Jersey. In
1978, when he encountered financial
problems, Salerno approached Leonetti for
a loan. In June 1979, Salerno had marital

problems and Leonetti allowed him to stay

-l6a-

at his premises. From September 1979 to
December 1979, Salerno resided at 26-28
North Georgia Avenue, in Atlantic City.
During that time, Salerno had frequent
contact with Scarfo, Leonetti, Merlino,
and Lumio, who was then the Secretary-
Treasurer of Local 54.

On several occasions Salerno
overheard Scarfo indicate that he
controlled the unions. Salerno testified,
for example, that on one occasion Scarfo
told Lumio that: "I got you your job and
I got that other big fat j-o his job and
don't you forget it." Salerno also
reetifies that during his stay at 26-28
North Georgia Avenue, he saw Gerace in
Scarfo's company 11 or 12 times. Salerno
stated that three to four meetings were
held at Scarf, Inc., a company owned and
operated by Scarfo. Meetings between
Gerace and Scarfo were also held at

Scarfo's apartment and outside the

“i 7a=-

premises of 26-28 North Georgia Avenue.
Salerno stated, however, that he never
overheard Gerace and Scarfo's conversation
and never heard them say anything to each
other regarding Local 54 and union
business.

The Commission also heard evidence
about Local 54's dealings with Scarfo
associates and cited Robert Lumio, Albert
Daidone, Joseph Erace, and Frank Lentino,
in addition to Gerace and Materio, as
present or former employees of Local 54
who are connected to Scarfo.

Robert Lumio was appointed by Gerace
to fill the office of Secretary-Treasurer
in August 1979. As previously mentioned,
Salerno testified with respect to Lumio's
ties to Scarfo. In addition, State agents
testified they saw Lumio in the company of
Scarfo and Leonetti on several occasions.
Albert Daidone became Local 54's business

agent for the Camden office in December

DL Le a ee

-18a-

1980. Less than four months later, Gerace
appointed Daidone to the Executive Board
of Local 54. In June 1981, Daidone was
appointed Vice President of Local 54
following thé death of Robert Lumio.
Daidone was an admitted friend of Natale
and Angelo Bruno. Natale was described by
FBI agents as "a major distributor of
illegal drugs" and "a very close associate
of Angelo Bruno.”

The Commission found that Joseph
Erace was the third member of Local 54
with connections to Scarfo. On December
14, 1981, Gerace appointed Erace to the
Executive Board of Local 54. Donna
Savarese, lounge manager at the Tropicana
Casino Hotel, testified to the Commission
that on February 6, 1982, Erace approached
her and stated that he wanted to introduce
her to a friend named Nick Scarfo.

Frank Lentino is the last Local 54

employee with alleged ties to Nick Scarfo.

-19a-

On June §, 1981, Gerace appointed Lentino
as Camden County Office Manager. Lentino
appears on the Scarfo telephone list,
previously described, under the name Frank
Gray, with a coded number. Lentino is
also a proposed alibi witness for Scarfo
in connection with the Falcone murder.
Thus, the Commission found that there are
six present or former employees of Local
54, Gerace, Materio, Lumio, Daidone,
Lentino, and Erace who are ccnnected to
Scarfo or other members of the Bruno crime
family.

The Commission also found
connections between Local 54's business
dealings and persons or firms tied to
Scarfo. The Division first presented
evidence that a company hired by Local 54
to perform union headquarters renovation
work was connected with Scarfo. In
January 1979, Local 54's Executive Board

approved a renovation of the union

BL

-20a-

headquarters and authorized the officers
to seek the best union contractors for the
job. Toro Construction Company became the
general contractor for the renovations.
Tore is a legitimate company and was one
of four or five contractors recommended to
Gerace by John Rich, business agent for
Local 33. Although there is no evidence
of any irregularity in the way Toro
obtained contracts or performed work for
Local 54, Toro had contributed $44,000 in
cash to the bail for Scarfo, Leonetti and
Merlino following their arrest for the
Falcone murder. In addition, Rick Casale,
roofing contractor who did the roofing
work on the renovation of Local 54
headquarters, is a "very close associate
of Scarfto.*

In 1979 Local 54 sold its
headquarters building for $175,000. Part

of the real estate commission was earned

by one Vincent Sausto, an insurance broker

-2la-

and real estate agent who handles
insurance policies for Scarfo and his
relatives, and who has been seen on the
premises of Scarf, Inc.

The Division also produced evidence
concerning business dealings between
Affiliated Leasing Systems, Inc. and Local
54. In march 1979, Affiliated Leasing
Systems, Inc. leased a car to Philip
Leonetti. On December 18, 1979, Robert
Wayne, an account executive with
Affiliated, had occasion to go to the
offices of Scarf, Inc. to deliver a
vehicle. While at Scarf, Inc.
headquarters, Scarfo suggested to Wayne
that he contact Local 54 with regard to
the possible leasing of other vehicles.
As a result, Affiliated leased two
vehicles to Local 54.

Testimony also was presented on
behalf of Gerace and Materio. Sixteen

witnesses, including Joseph Menardy,

Mi rrrrrrneetenmsinreeceenniiiliieiinsiataanatta tit itll

-22a-

Business Manager of Local 334, Charles
Marciante, President of the New Jersey
AFL-CIO, and William G. Rosenthal, Esq. of
Shaw & Rosenthal, testified that Gerace
was a dedicated and responsible union
leader. The Commission found that the
testimony on behalf of Local was
uncontradicted.

The Commission found, however,
viewing the record as a whole, that the
association of Gerace and Materio with
Nicodemo Scarfo was inimical to the policy
of the act and to gaming operations. The
Commission further held that once the
influence of a career criminal such as
Scarfo has been shown, the State need not
wait for its detrimental effect on the
union to become manifest. Materio and
Gerace were, thus, disqualified under
Section 86(f) of the act.

The Division also presented evidence

for the disqualification of Karlos LaSane.

-23a-

LaSane has been employed with Local 54
since May 4, 1981. LaSane represents
union members employed at Bally's Park
Place and Caesar's Boardwalk Regency at
grievance hearings. LaSane testified that
he attends grievance hearings, speaks on
behalf of union members and attempts to
resolve whatever problems exist between
the employees and management. LaSane has
also been designated as Local 54's
affirmative action officer. The
Commission found that LaSane is an "agent

within the meaning of N.J.S.A.

AerSi-Fe.25—

The Division sought to disqualify
LaSane on the basis of his prior criminal
record. LaSane was convicted in the
United States District Court for the
District of New Jersey on May 21, 1973, of
interference with commerce, aiding and
abetting and conspiracy in violation of 18

U.S.C.A. §1951. From May 21, 1968, until

-24a-

the time of his indictment, LaSane was, as
a Commissioner of the City of Atlantic
City, Director of Parks and Public
Property. According to the indictment,
LaSane obstructed and delayed the
construction of public projects, purchases
of goods, and the licensing of firms which
sought to do business with the City of
Atlantic City. The offense for which
LaSane was convicted is equivalent to a

violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-5(d). This

offense is listed as a disqualifying
offense in Section 86(c)(1l) of the Casino

Control Act. N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(c)(1). The

Commission found that LaSane was acting in
his official capacity as Commissioner of
the City of Atlantic City when he
committed the acts which constituted the
federal crime. The Commission chose to
disqualify LaSane based on his prior

conviction, pursuant to N.J.S.A.

5:12-86(c).

-25a-

As
Appellants do not dispute that

Scarfo is a career offender or that Gerace
had a social relationship with Scarfo at
one time. They contend, however, that the
circumstantial evidence before the
Commission did not support a finding of
influence “inimical” to the policies of

the act within the meaning of N.J.S.A.

5:12-86(f). The State? contends the
evidence amply supports the Commission's
finding that Gerace and Materio operate
Local 54 under Scarfo's influence and that
the inimical criterion is therefore
satisfied.

The standard of reviewing
Commission's factual findings was

established in In re Boardwalk Regency

All references to "the State” refer to
both respondents, The Division of
Gaming Enforcement and the Casino
Control Commission, unless otherwise
specified.

-26a-

Casino License Application, 180 N.J.

Super. 324 (App. Div. 1981), aff'd as

mod., 90 N.J. 361 (1982), app. dism. sub

nom., Perlman v. Attorney General, 459

U.S. 1981, 103 S.Ct. 562, 74 L.Ed.2d 927
(1982). We held that an appellant court
is obligated to determine whether the
findings of fact:

could reasonably have been
reached on sufficient credible
evidence present in the
record, considering the proofs
as a whole, with due regard
for the opportunity of the
Commissioners who heard the
witnesses to judge of their
credibility.

[180.N.J. Super. at 333].

The appellate review calls for a careful
and principled consideration of the
agency's record and findings resting upon
a determination of the worth, plausibility

and consistency of that record. Mayflower

Securities Co. v. Bureau of Securities, 64

N.J. 85 (1973). As we stated in Boardwalk

Regency, if it appears that the

-278-

Commission's findings might reasonably
have been reached from sufficient credible
evidence,

[W]e will not disturb them
even in cases in which, had we
been doing it, we would have
done it differently. Proper
respect for the obligation of
the agency to accomplish its
statutory obligations and
consideration for implement-
ation of the legislative
intent in the manner designed
by the Legislature causes us
to proceed with especial re-
straint in agency matters.
[180 N.J. Super. at 334]

The essential question before the
Commission was whether the association
between Scarfo and members of Local 54 was
"inimical" within the meaning of Section
86(f), N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(f). Webster's

)

Third New International Dictionary defines

inimical as “harmful or adverse.”

Webster's Third New International

Dictionary, G.&C. Merriam Co., (1971).

Thus, if the Commission had "reasonable

belief" that the association between

-28a-

appellants and Scarfo was adverse to the
policy of the act and gaming operations,
it was obligated to disqualify the labor

Organization under Section 93. N.J.S.A.

9:12-86(f); N.J.S.A. 5:12-93(b).

The public policy of the State as
expressed in the act, necessitates a
Strong state regulatory interest in all

aspects of casino activities. N.J.S.A.

59:12-1(b)(6). The State's interest
extends to those labor organizations which
represent state-licensed or registered

Casino hotel workers. N.J.S.A. 5:12-93.

Of paramount concern to the Legislature
was the exclusion from participation in
the gaming industry of all persons with
known criminal records, habits or

associations. N.J.S.A. 5:12-1(b)(7).

Because labor organizations have the power
to involve themselves materially in the
operation of casino hotels, regulatory

Supervision of such organizations was

-29a-

deemed critical. The State Commission of
Investigation, in advocating the adoption
of what is now Section 93, noted that
there were:

few better vehicles utilized
by organized crime to gain a
stranglehold on an entire
industry than labor
racketeering.

[Report and Recommendations on
Casino Gambling by the New
Jersey State Commission of
Investigation (April 1977) at
1-14]

The Legislature intended by enacting
Section 93, to enable the Commission to
regulate labor organizations and, thus,

prevent members of organized crime from

affecting the casino industry through

labor unions. See Brown v. Hotel and

Restaurant Employees and Bartenders

International Union Local 54, 468 U.S.

, 166 8.Ct. 3179, 3182-3284, 82 L.Ed. 2d

373, 379-380 (1984).

In view of the legislative

background, a properly supported finding

-30a-

of influence by Scarfo over Gerace and
Materio would be sufficient to disqualify

the two union members under N.J.S.A.

9:12-86(f). Appellants concede a showing
of actual influence would disqualify them.
They contend however, that the
Commission's conclusions are not supported
by sufficient evidence that either Gerace
Or Materio were subject to the influence
of Scarfo.

The evidence cited by the Commission
to support its conclusion that Scarfo
influenced Gerace and Materio includes:
(1) Scarfo's phone list; (2) the fact that
appellants helped Scarfo obtain his
release on bail in 1979; (3) the testimony
of Joseph Salerno; (4) union appointments
with alleged ties to Scarfo; and (5)
business dealings between Local 54 and
Scarfo associates. Appellants contend
this evidence does not support the

Commission's findings that Scarfo exerted

-3la-

actual influence over them. With respect
to the telephone list, the Commission
concluded:

It can be inferred that the
persons on the list are those
who Scarfo had occasion to
speak with or anticipated that
he might have an occasion to
speak with on the telephone.

In view of the constant
attention he receives from the
police, it can further be
inferred that he kept certain
numbers in code because he did
not want evidence of his
association with those persons
to fall into the hands of the
authorities. The appearance
of five Local 54 employees on
the list is evidence of
Scarfo's interest in the Union
and access to its leaders

Appellants argue that the phone list
demonstrated nothing more than Scarfo's
interest in Local 54 and should be
disregarded. The State admits that the
phone list, by itself, is not conclusive
as to Scarfo's influence over Gerace and
Materio, however, the State contends that

it is not without value.

-32a-

Similarly, appellants aliees the.
coded message confiscated from Scarfo in
1979 is not indicative of Scarfo's
influence over Gerace and Materio. The
message did not refer to either appellant
Gerace or Materio. Appellants, however,
do not challenge the Commission's
conclusion that the message evidenced
Scarfo's interest in the union.

The Commission secondly points to
bail money posted by Gerace and Materio
for the release of Scarfo, Leonetti and
Merlino after their arrest for the murder
. Of Vincent Falcone. Gerace contends he
supplied Scarfo with $10,000 at his
mother's request. Gerace further contends
the Commission found that the transaction
was open and legitimate. The Commission
concluded, however, that Gerace would not
risk a major portion of his savings for an

Organized crime figure unless "motivated

-33a-

by some strong sense of obligation or
loyalty."

Materio also claimed that he put up
his house as property bail for Leonetti
and Merlino as a favor to Scarfo's mother.
Materio testified that he knew Scarfo
casually, Leonetti only by sight, and that
he did not know Merlino at all. The
Commission found Materio's explanation
unconvincing. The Commission concluded:

We cannot believe that
[Materio] would put up his
house, over the objection of
his wife, as bail for people
he barely knew. Even if he
thought he was putting up bail
for Scarfo, or as a favor to
Catherine Scarfo, we cannot
believe he would do so if his
relationship with these people
was as Casual as he claims.

The Commission also relied on the
testimony of Joseph Salerno as evidence of
Scarfo's influence over Gerace and

Materio. Salerno had frequent contact

with Scarfo, Leonetti, Merlino and Lumio.

-34a-

Salerno testified that Scarfo indicated he
owned the unions and that he placed Lumio
and Gerace in their jobs. Salerno also
testified that Gerace was a frequent
visitor of Scarf, Inc. and that Scarfo and
Gerace had many private conversations.

The Commission found Salerno to be a
credible witness and, therefore, took his
testimony into consideration.

Appellants argue that Salerno, a
confessed "gangster," is not a credible
witness. They point out that Salerno
perjured himself in téstimony before the
United States Senate Subcommittee on
Investigation reeerdiag Gerace's meetings
with Scarfo. Salerno testified before the
Senate Subcommittee that he overheard
Gerace and Scarfo discuss affairs of Local
94. (It was not until he was
cross-examined by Gerace's counsel that
Salerno admitted he never overheard any

conversation between Gerace and Scarfo and

EEE

-35a-

had merely assumed they discussed union
business. Appellants urge this court to
discredit Salerno's testimony on the basis
of his prior perjured testimony.

The State argues that Salerno's
credibility could only be judged by the
Commissioners who were present during the
proceedings, and who found Salerno's
assumption that Gerace and Scarfo
discussed union business understandable in
light of the frequency of their
conversations, and Scarfo's prior
statements about controlling the unions.

The Commission also listed
appointments to union offices of persons
tied to Scarfo and business dealings of
Local 54 with persons or firms tied to
Scarfo, as indicative of an influence
"inimical" to the policies of the act.

The Commission first noted that Gerace and

Materio were responsible for appointing to

union offices several associates of

-36a-

Scarfo, including: Robert Lumino, Albert
Daidone, Joseph Erace and Frank Lentino.
Appellants contend that all individuals
appointed to union positions were
qualified for the job. In fact, the
Commission conceded that none of the
disputed appointees acted illegally or
improperly in the conduct of union
affairs. Materio also argues that his
participation simply consisted of his
making a formal motion that the
individuals be accepted. His
disqualification, he claims, is based on
"guilt by association."

Actually, it is irrelevant that
appellants’ appointments involved
qualified individuals. Permitting the
infiltration into the union's official
positions by friends of organized crime is
intrinsically wrong. Furthermore,
Materio's participation, was not as

5

innocent as he indicates. For example,

——— Ne

-3ta~

the Commission heard testimony regarding a
scheme whereby Salerno would contract for
the plumbing work for the renovation of
Local 54 headquarters at an inflated rate
and would then split the profit with Lumio
and Leonetti. Although present when this
scheme was proposed, Materio did not
attempt to intercede. The plan never
materialized due to Salerno's other
business commitments.

The Commission finally listed a
series of Local 54's business dealings
with ties to Scarfo associates and
concluded:

[T]he appointments and

business associations, when
viewed in the light of the

Appellants include in their argument
the results of a polygraph examination
taken by Materio after the 1982
hearings. The test results, however,
were never before the Commission and,
thus, not a part of the record. This
court denied respondent's motion to
strike portions of appellants’ brief
and appendix that were not part of the
record below.

-38a-

evidence concerning Scarfo's
interest in the union and
access to its leaders,

renders it impossible to
ascribe them to coincidence or
to anything other than
Scarfo's influence over Gerace
and Materio.

As with the union appointments,
appellants attempted to refute the
Commission's findings by evidence that
there were no irregularities evidenced in
any of these business dealings. The
relevant point is not whether the
challenged business associations are
themselves improper, but whether they
constitute evidence of an external
influence on Local 54.

In conclusion, the Commission had a
record replete with circumstantial
evidence of Scarfo's influence over Gerace
and Materio. The evidence manifests
itself in the union officials’ personal

relationship with Scarfo as well as in

their business relationships with Scarfo

-39a-

associates. The sheer number of ties to
Scarfo renders incredible an innocent

explanation. The Commission considered
the legislative intent, as expressed in

N.J.S.A. 5:12-1, of preventing organized

crime members from affecting the casino
industry through labor unions, and found:

[O]nce the influence of a
Career Criminal such as Scarfo
has been shown, we need not
wait for its inevitable
detrimental effect on the
Union and ultimately on the
casino industry to become
manifest before we can act.
The fact of influence by a
person such as Scarfo is
inimical to the policy of the
Act and gaming operations.

Considering the record as a whole, we
conclude that the findings of fact are
supported by sufficient credible evidence.
i or
Appellants argue that the freedom of
association embodied in the First
Amendment protects Gerace'’s and Materio's

relationship with Scarfo, and because it

-40a-

does, such a relationship cannot be
restricted based on the State's interest
in preventing corruption in the gaming
industry. In its decision to disqualify
Gerace and Materio, the Commission found
that these individuals were operating
Local 54 under the influence of Scarfo in
a manner that is inimical to the policies
of the Casino Control Act. Gerace and
Materio argue that because the Commission
found no evidence of impropriety or
misconduct, they were being disqualified
solely because of their "social
association" with Scarfo. The State
argues that the constitutional question is
restricted to whether the First Amendment
protects a relationship in which union
officials are influenced by members of
Organized crime. We are asked to
determine the bounds of the freedom of
association and whether appellants’

activity is protected by the First

-4la-

Amendment guarantees. We also must
determine whether the State has a
"compelling interest” in prohibiting
appellants’ association with Scarfo, and
whether the means chosen were "closely
drawn" to the purpose of the act.

A.

The right of association, which is
not specifically mentioned in the First
Amendment, has been recognized as incident
to the rights of free speech and assembly.
It was first acknowledged as a necessary
means to promote effective advocacy and

the "advancement of beliefs." N.A.A.C.P.

v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449, 460-462, 78

S.Ct. 1163, 2 L.Ed.2d 1488 (1958), reh.
den., 361 U.S. 856, 80 S.Ct. 43, 4 L.Ed.2d
96 (1959). In recent decisions, courts
have expanded the right to include
associations with no overtly political

purpose.

-42a-

In Roberts v. United States Jaycees,

468 U.S. , 104 S.Ct. 3244, 82 L.Ed. 2d

462 (1984), the Supreme Court determined
that the constitutionally protected right
to association has developed in two areas.
104 S.Ct. at 3249, 82 L.Ed.2d at 471. In
analyzing prior cases, the Supreme Court
concluded that:

In one line of decisions ...
choices to enter and maintain
certain intimate human
relationships must be secured
against undue intrusion by the
State .... In another set of
decisions, the Court has
recognized a right to
associate for the purpose of
those activities protected by
the First Amendment -- speech,
assembly, petition for the
redress of grievances, and the
exercise of religion. [82
L.Ed.2d at 471)

Appellants concede their past associations
with Scarfo did not involve the
advancement of political or religious
matters. Instead, they allege that their

First Amendment right is protected by the

-43a-

first line of court decisions,
protect certain "intimate human

relationships.”

those which

In Roberts, however, the Court

recognized that the right to associate is

not absolute:

Determining the limits of
state authority over an
individual's freedom to enter
into a particular association

therefore unavoidably

entails

a careful assessment of where
that relationship's objective

characteristics locate
spectrum from the most

intimate to the most

attenuated attachments

it ona

We

need not mark the potentially

Significant points on

this

terrain with any precision.
We note only that factors that
may be relevant include size,

purpose, policies,

selectivity, congeniality, and

other characteristics
L.Ed.2d at 473]

[82

Lower courts have reinforced an

individual's right to freedom of

association as defined in Roberts. For

example, in Wilson v. Taylor, 733 F.2d

1539 (ll Cir. 1984), the Court

held that

-44a-

it was improper to discharge a police
officer based solely on his dating
relationship with the daughter of a
convicted felon and reputed organized
Crime figure. 733 F.2d at 1540. The
Court found the officer's relationship
protected by the First Amendment. The
Court of Appeals had expressly noted,
however, in a prior decision in the same
case, that Wilson had not contested the
lower court's finding that association
with the father, a known felon and reputed
leader of organized crime, was not a
constitutionally protected right. 658
F.2d 1621, 1027 (S$ Cir. 2981).

Similarly, in Bruns v. Pomerleau,

319 F.Supp. 58 (D.Md. 1970), the district
court ruled that the police department's
refusal to hire an otherwise qualified
individual, solely because he belonged to
an organization of nudists, violated the

First Amendment. The court, nevertheless,

-45a-

recognized the Department's interest in
the behavior of its officers off-duty as
well as on. 319 F.Supp. at 67. The
officer's activities, the court held,
could be limited only by such associations
as were “inimical to the Department." 319
F.Supp. at 67.

Several other courts have extended

the freedom of association. Sawyer v.

Sandstrom, 615 F.2d 311 (5 Cir. 1980),

involved an overly broad loitering
ordinance which punished an individual for
his act of being in a public place and
associating with individuals whom he knew
were unlawfully possessing or using drugs.
615 F.2d at 316. The court held that this
was an impermissible infringement on his
freedom of association. 615 F.2d 3ll.

The Second Circuit also held that an
individual's associational right is

protected by the First Amendment. McKenna

v. Peekskill Housing Authority, 497

-46a-

F.Supp. 1217 (S.D.N.Y. 1980), mod. on
other grounds 647 F.2d 332 (2d Cir. 1981).
McKenna involved the invalidation of a
public housing authority regulation which
required the registration in advance of
guests wishing to visit tenants. 647 F.2d

at 332. In Fisher v. Snyder, 346 F.Supp

396 (D.Neb. 1972), aff'd, 476 F.2d 375 (8
Cir. 1973), a female public school teacher
was terminated because she had male
overnight guests. The court held that the
teacher's right to associate was violated.

346 F. Supp. at 399. In Scales v. United

States, 367 U.S. 203, 81 S.Ct. 1469, 6
L.Ed.2d 782 (1961), reh. den. 366 U.S.
978, 81 S.Ct. 1469, 6 L.Ed.2d 782 (1961),
the Supreme Court invalidated portions of

the Smith Act, 18 U.S.C. §2385, which

prohibited membership in any organization
advocating the overthrow of the government
by force. The Court held that the statute

was unconstitutional to the extent that it

-47a-

prevented the mere membership in an
organization. 367 U.S. at 228.

The State argues that although these
cases expand the protected right of
association, they do not address the facts
as found by the Commission in the present

case. Lewitus v. Colwell, 479 F.Supp. 439

(D.Md. 1979) is the most significant
federal decision regarding the legitimacy
of state regulations of interactions with
Criminals by persons involved in gaming
operations. In Lewitus, an applicant for
a Maryland racehorse owner's license was
denied licensure because of his
association, partially social and
partially business-related, with an
individual who had been involved in
illegal racetrack practices. The Court
held that the State had a valid interest
in maintaining the integrity, as well as
the appearance of integrity, of the gaming

industry. 479 F.Supp. at 448. The court

Leen ee

-48a-

concluded that the applicant's association
was not protected by the First Amendment.
Id. Although the Lewitus court's
rationale reflected a more narrow reading
of the scope of protected association than

that advocated more recently in Roberts v.

United States Jaycees, it cannot be

dismissed as suggested by Gerace and
Materio. In light of the finding by the
court of an inference of illegal

influence, the Lewistus decision still

would be valid under the broader view of
the First Amendment right as taken in more

recent cases. [See e.g., Wilson v.

Taylor, 658 F.2d 1021, 1027 (Sth Cir.
1981)].
The most relevant New Jersey case

suggests the same result. Niglio v. New

Jersey Racing Commission, 158 N.J. Super.

182 (App. Div. 1978). In Niglio, the

Racing Commission barred the spouse of a

disqualified person, not solely on grounds

-49a-

of the marital relationsnip, wet because
of the spouse's dependence on and
influence by the disqualified individual.
This court found no associational rights
implicated by the Commission's decision.
There are other New Jersey cases
which have denied licenses or other
governmental privileges to applicants
under the influence of a disqualified
individual, without the suggestion that
the denial implicated First Amendment
rights. See, e.g., In re Disciplinar
Hearings Against Schmidt, 79 N.J. 344,
352-353 (1979); Trap Rock Industries, Inc.

v. Kohl, 59 N.J. 471, 481-482 (1971),

cert. den., 405 U.S. 1065 92 S.Ct. 1500,

31 L.Ed.2d 796 (1972); Florence Methodist

Church v. Florence Twp. Comm., 38 N.J.

Super. 85, 88-9C (App. Div. 1955).
Appellants contend, however, that
their association with Scarfo is within

the ambit of the First Amendment freedom.

_eeEOoOo |

-50a-

They claim that their association was
purely a social relationship, one that
developed through their mothers. Gerace
contends it is because of his mother's
friendship with Kathryn Scarfo, and
Lillian Gerace'’s maternal pressure, that
he helped Scarfo make bail in 1979.
Similarly, Materio claims he helped
Scarfo, whom he knew for 25 years. It is
also for this reason, the union officials
argue, that their phone numbers can be
found on Scarfo's telephone list.

Assuming a purely social
relationship existed between Scarfo and
the union officials, the State maintains
it is still unprotected by the First
Amendment. Although Roberts has expanded
the right of association to encompass both
"expressional associations” and "certain
intimate human relationships,” that case
has not raised to the level of First

Amendment protection every social

-Sla-

relationship which may exist in a society.

Roberts, supra, 82 L.Ed.2d at 471. The

types of relationships which fall under
the protected category include those that,
"attend the creation and sustenance of a
family, ... the raising and education of
children ... and cohabitation with one's

relatives ...--" G2 4.86.26 at $72.

B.

Assuming, arguendo, that the

relationship of Gerace and Materio with
Scarfo is constitutionally protected, any
"infringement resulting from their
disqualification under Section 86 of the
act may still be justified as a compelling

State interest. As noted in Roberts, the

First Amendment right of association is
not absolute. "Infringement on that right
may be justified by regulations adopted to
serve compelling State interests unrelated
to the suppression of ideas, that cannot

be achieved through means significantly

-52a-

less restrictive of associational

freedoms." 82 L.Ed. at 474.

Appellants concede that the State
has a compelling interest in "keeping
organized crime out of unions representing
casino employees." The United States
Supreme Court also recognized this

interest in Brown v. Hotel and Restaurant

Employees and Bartenders International

Union Local 54, 468 U.S. , £04 S205

3279, 3262, 82 L.Ed.26 373, 379 (2987,
Furthermore, it is the express policy of
the Casino Control Act to protect the
industry from the influence of organized

Crime through labor unions. Report and

Recommendation of Casino Gambling by the

New Jersey State Commission of

Investigation (April 1977) at 1-14;

N.J.S.A. 5:12-1(b) (6).

Appellants argue, however, that the
Commission found no evidence of influence

by Scarfo. They contend Section 86

-53a-

sanctions should be applied only when the
State demonstrates actual influence and
impropriety, and not to prevent the
possibility of influence at some future
date.

In Boardwalk Regency, supra, this

court reviewed the Commission's findings
that Clifford and Stewart Perlman were
unsuitable for licensure based, in part,
upon their association with organized

Crime figures. 180 N.J. Super. 324 (App.

Div. 1981). The Perlmans argued that they
were disqualified for their "innocent
associations” unrelated to the casino

imGgustry. 200 @.e. super. at 339. In

affirming their disqualifications, we
stated:

The question was not then, and
is not now, whether those
transactions were lawful or
how lawful, or ethical, or how
ethical. The question which
the Perlmans failed to see
then and, perhaps
understandably, do not now
acknowledge, is: what of the
impact of those transactions

-54a-

and associations upon the
policies intended to be served
by casino gaming regulation
under legislative imprimatur?
(180 N.J. super. at 348].

The policies “intended to be served,”
include, the public confidence and trust
in the credibility and integrity of the
regulatory process and of casino

operations, as expressed in N.J.S.A.

§:12-1(b)(6), and the exclusion from
participation in the casino industry of
persons with known criminal records,
habits, or associations, as found in

N.J.S.A. 5:12-1(b)(7). Boardwalk Regency

also held that there is nothing inherently
wrong with sensitive and strict
regulations which enable the Commission to
control the industry better. 180 N.J
Super. at 341.

Here, the disqualifying conduct of
Gerace and Materio closely parallels that

engaged in by the Perlmans in Boardwalk

Regency. Gerace and Materio personally

-55a-

associated themselves with an organized
crime figure, Nicodemo Scarfo. The
Commission found they were responsible for
the manifestations of Scarfo's influence
in the union's business affairs. As in

Boardwalk Regency, the operative question

is not whether the association between
Gerace, Materio and Scarfo are lawful or
ethical, but rather what impact such
associations have on the policies intended
to be served by casino gaming regulation.

See 180 N.J. Super. at 340, 348. The

State's interest in maintaining the
integrity of casino operations supersedes
appellants' right to freedom of
association. It should also be noted,
that the United States Supreme Court
dismissed the Perlmans' constitutional
arguments "for want of a substantial

federal question." Perlman v. Attorney

General, €595 U.S, 1961, 103 $.¢t. S62, 74

L.Ed.2d 927 (1982). The Commission has

-56a-

demonstrated the compelling State interest

of protecting the casino industry. That

interest justifies any associational

infringement resulting from the

disqualification of Gerace and Materio.
eee

Appellants contend that Section 86
of the Casino Control Act is
unconstitutionally vague on its face and
as applied to them. Specifically,
appellants contend that the term
"inimical" is impermissibly vague on its
face, and that the statute 1s vague as
applied because they were not given
adequate notice that Scarfo was a "Career
offender” until the Commission's hearing
in 1982.

A statute is void for vagueness if
it 1s couched in terms "so vague that men
of common intelligence must necessarily
guess at its meaning and differ as to its

application." State v. Lashinsky, 81 N.J.

-~3/a~-

1, 17-18 (1979). As long as procedural
and judicial safeguards are available,
however, the fact that certain statutory
phrases are not “impeccable specimens of
draftsmanship" does not impugn their

legality. In In re Boardwalk Regency

Casino License Application, 180 N.J.

Super. 324, 345 (App. Div. 1981), quoting

In Review Health Care Adm. Bd. V. Finley,

bee wea, super, 152, 167 (app. Div. 1979),

aff'd sub nom. New Jersey Ass'n of Health

Care Facilities v. Finley, 83 N.J. 67

(1980), app. dism. sub nom. Wayne Haven

Nursing Home v. Finley, 449 U.S. 104 92

Seue, e208, 23 G.80.20 222 (1972), the

Court reviewed the values that are
offended by vague laws and determined a
twofold purpose in requiring specific
legislation. The Court first insisted the
drafters provide notice as to the conduct
prescribed. Secondly, the Court mandated

_explicit standards for those who apply the

-58a-

Statutes in order to avoid arbitrary ard

discriminatory enforcement. 408 U.S. at
108. |

The degree of specificity, however,
depends on the nature of the legislative
provision in question. The most stringent
judicial review has been reserved for
those cases involving criminal statutes or
penalties, or situations in which a law
threatens to inhibit the exercise of
constitutionally protected rights. See

Lanzetta v. New Jersey, 306 U.S. 451, 453,

59 $.Ct. 618, 619, 83 L.Ed. 888, 890

(1939); Papachristou v. City of

Jacksonville, €65 U.S. 156, i62, 32 8.Ct.

B29, 843, 3 £88. 26 336, 125 (292i.
Regulation of economic activity, by
contrast, is subject to a less strict

vagueness test. Village of Hoffman

Estates v. Flipside, Hoffman Estates,

inc., $35 U.S. 489, 496-499, i092 $.ct.

2023, 72 L.Ed.2d 476 (1982). The United

-59a-

States District Court recognized in Hotel

and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders

International Union Local 54 v. Danzinger,

356 F.Supp. 317, 337 (D.N.J. 1982) that

"the alleged vague portions of §86 are
aimed primarily at economic activity."

In addition, because Section 86(f)
does not infringe on constitutionally
protected freedoms, a facial vagueness
attack can succeed only if it is shown
that the statute is "invalid in toto--and
therefore incapable of any valid

application." Steffel v. Thompson, 415

u.8. 432, 476, °94 S.48. b200. 2e08 2

L.Ed.2d 505, 523 (1974). Unless the
statute is impermissibly vague in all of
its applications, it must be upheld
against a facial vagueness attack.

Hoffman Estates v. Flipside, Hoffman

Estates, Inc., 455 U.S. at 494-495. A

plaintiff who engages in some conduct that

is clearly proscribed by the statute

-60a-

Cannot complain of the vagueness of the
law as applied to the conduct of others.
We must examine the vagueness argument
against Section 86(f) of the act in light
of the facts of the case at hand. United

States v. Mazurie, 419 U.S. 544, 551, 95

S.Ct. 710, 715, $2 U.8a.26 706, 7is

(2975).

Appellants contend the term
"inimical" does not give a person of
ordinary intelligence adequate notice of
what conduct is prohibited by the act.
Appellants allege that since not all
associations with career offenders are
prohibited by the act, persons involved in
the casino industry are required to
speculate as to which associations are
"inimical."

In considering the challenge to the
"inimical" criterion, this court must view
Section 86 as part of the overall casino

regulatory scheme. As we stated Boardwalk

-6la-

Regency "the words of a statute must
be considered to exist in a vacuum,
without reference to relevant policy
considerations as they are expressed
the whole act, or without regard for
words of balance of the statute.” 18

N.J. Super. at 346.

N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(f) reads as

follows:

The identification of the
applicant or any person who
required to be qualified und
this act as a condition of a
casino license as a career
offender or a member of a
career offender cartel or an
associate of a career offend
or a career offender cartel
such a manner which creates
reasonable belief that the
association is of such a
nature as to be inimical to
the policy of this act and t
gaming operations. For
purposes of this section,
career offender shall be
Gefined as any person whose
behavior is pursued in an

not

in
the

0

is
er

er
in
a

12)

occupational manner or context

for the purpose of economic
gain, utilizing such methods
as are deemed criminal
violations of the public
policy of this State. A
career offender cartel shall

-62a-

be defined as any group of

persons who operate together

as career offenders.
The word "inimical" is not defined. As
appellants note, on December 15, 1976,
during the public hearings on the
Commission Control Act, Atlantic City
Commissioner Edmund Colanzi questioned the
use of the word "inimical" in the context
of the act's disqualification provisions.
Colanzi's criticisms were rejected. The
State points out that the term "inimical"

was interpreted by the Commission as early

as 1979, in In Re Application of Resorts

International Hotel, Inc., for a casino

license, Docket No. 79-Cl-1 (Casino
Control Commission 1979). There the
Commission stated, in part:

{I ]n considering an
alleged association with a
Career offender, the
Commission is concerned with
more than the reflection, if
any, which the association has
on the character of the
Applicant, or other person
required to be qualified.

-63a-

Even assuming the good
character of such a person, a
continuing association with
career offenders or other
unsuitable persons might well
be inimical to the Act or to
legalized gaming where the
nature and quality of the
association would justly call
into question the integrity of
the regulatory process and of
casino operations. Such a
question would arise where the
nature and quality of the
relationship create a risk
that the career offender might
exercise some degree of
influence or control over the
association with regard to
gaming operations or other
business incidental to such
operations. The danger of
such indirect participation by
career offenders or other
unsuitable individuals cannot
be tolerated. [Resorts at
17-19].

Courts have repeatedly upheld, as
against vagueness challenges, criterion
less definite than that challenged here.
Our Supreme Court upheld the standards of
"good moral character" and "professional
or occupational misconduct" against
challenges of unconstitutional vagueness.

In re Polk License Revocation, 90 N.J. 550

—_————

-64a-

(1982). In Boyce Motor Lines, Inc. v.

Gaited: States, 3642. 0.5. 337, 3205 ta 8, Ct.

329, 330, 96 L.Ed. 367, 370 (1952), the
Court upheld a regulation which directed
motor vehicle drivers transporting
explosives or inflammable material to
"avoid, so far as practicable, ... driving
into or through congested
thoroughfares...."

In addition, the Supreme Court
upheld a statute making it a crime to sell
goods at "unreasonably low prices for the

purposes of destroying competition or

eliminating a competitor." United States

v. National Dairy Products Corp., 372 U.S.

29, 83 $.Ct. $94, 9 L.Ea@.2@ 12 (1963).

Finally, this court has upheld against a
vagueness challenge, the "good character"
Criterion of the casino control act. In

re Broadwalk Regency Casino Application,

supra, 180 N.J. Super. at 345-347. The

disqualification standard of N.J.S.A.

-65a-

5:12-86(f), as interpreted and refined by
the Commission, is at least as definite
and validly applicable to certain types of
conduct as was the "good character”

standard approved of in Boardwalk Regency

and, accordingly, appellants' facial
vagueness claim must fail.®

A statute is also unconstitutionally
vague if the discretion of those who must
enforce it is not limited by explicit

legislative standards. Grayned v. City of

Rockford, supra, 33 L.Ed.2d 222.

Appellants argue the "inimical" standard

encourages an arbitrary application

6 The vagueness challenge to the term
"inimical" was rejected by the United
States District Court in Hotel and
Restaurant Employees and Bartenders
International Union Local 54 v.
Danzinger, 536 F.Supp. 317 (1982).
Judge Brotman found that the alleged
vague portions of Section 86 of the
act were aimed primarily at economic
activities, and that the penalties
which the act imposes are civil rather

(Footnote continued)

-66a-

dependent solely on the "whim" of the
Commission.

In Sunshine Anthracite Coal Co. v.

Atkins, 310 U.§. 301,-60 $.€t. 3G7,. 96

L.Ed. 1263 (1940) the Court noted that in
many cases a statute's application may be
difficult to describe. In rejecting a
vagueness challenge it stated: |

The difficulty or impossi-
bility of drawing a statutory
line is one of the reasons for
supplying merely a statutory
guide ... that guide is
sufficiently precise for an
intelligent determination of
the ultimate questions of
facts by experts .... [310
U.S. at 399-400].

Appellants also argue that Section

86 of the act is unconstitutionally vague

6 (continued)
than criminal. He also found that
Section 86(f) does not address all
associations with career offenders,
but only those which would defeat the
statutory purposes of the act. 536
F.Supp. at 337. In addition, he found
that the “reasonable belief"
restriction on the Commission's
ability to disqualify applicants

(Footnote continued)

“6 /a~-

to them. Gerace and Materio contend they
should have been apprised that Scarfo was
a "career offender” prior to their
disqualification. It was nct until the
hearings before the Commission in 1982,
they contend, that they had actual notice
Scarfo would be considered a "career
offender." They claim that because they
were not notified by the Commission of
Scarfo's status, they had no way of
knowing that their conduct was "inimical"
to the policies of the gaming industry.

During 1982, the Commission
conducted extensive hearings which
resulted in the disqualification of Gerace
and Materio on the basis of their

association with Scarfo. It is self-

6 (continued)
established an objective standard for
judging an individual's action, and
concluded that appellants herein were
not likely to succeed on the merits of
their vagueness claim. 536 F.Supp. at
337-338.

-68a-

evident from the facts adduced that the
union officials had close contact with
Scarfo. Minimally, they had constructive
knowledge of Scarfo's illegal activities.
The press, furthermore, should have put
appellants on notice that Scarfo was not a
highly reputable citizen. In 1979,
appellants contributed money to a bail
fund for the release of Scarfo and his
associates, following their arrest for a
widely publicized homicide. Although
Scarfo was never convicted of that crime,
the incident should have warned appellants
of Scarfo's possible exclusion from the
gaming industry.

Appellants contend, however, they

must have actual notice of Scarfo's

classification as "a career offender"
before they can be disqualified, relying

on Broadwalk Regency, supra, for this

proposition. In that case, the Perlmans

were found to be disqualified due to their

-69a-

repeated relationship with a person of
unsuitable character who associated with
persons engaged in organized criminal
activities. In concluding that the act
was not vague as applied to the Perlmans,
this court referred to the fact that the
Perlmans had received notice from the
Nevada Gaming Commission that their
associations would be considered

unacceptable. 180 N.J. Super. at 347. We

also stated however, that the potential
key employee was reasonably apprised by
this statute, "as a matter of common
knowledge, in light of ordinary human
experience, as to the kind of conduct
necessary to satisfy this statute (or put
another way, the kind of conduct which is
likely to result in disqualification)."

180 N.J. Super. at 347. In that light,

Boardwalk Regency cannot be cited for the

proposition that appellants must receive

actual notice from the Commission of

-70a-

Scarfo's status as a "career offender”
before they can be disqualified. See In

Re Boardwalk Regency License Application,

180 N.J. at 345-347.
Appellants also rely on the
Commission's "black-listing" provision,

N.J.S.A. 5:12-71, for the proposition that

they should have been given notice.
Section 71 provides that the Commission
shall establish a list of persons who are
to be excluded from licensed casinos
because, in the opinion of the Commission,
their presence would be inimical to the
interest of the act. The list consists
primarily of persons convicted of cheating
at casino games and of notorious organized
Crime figures. Scarfo was placed on the
list in 1983, after Gerace and Materio
were found disqualified by the Commission.
However, the Commission contends that the
"exclusion list" is not comprehensive, and

is not designed to notify the general

“7.,0"

public of the identity of career
offenders. The incorporation of Section
71 into Section 86(f) is not warranted by
the policy of the act and is not required
by constitutional law. In addition,
Gerace and Materio cannot seriously
contend that they were aware that Scarfo
was a career offender until he was placed
on the "exclusion list."

We conclude that Gerace and Materio
were not entitled to be given formal
notice that Scarfo was considered a
"career offender" prior to the
disqualification, and that Section 86(f)
of the act is not vague on its face nor as
applied to appellants.

es

Gerace claims that the Casino
Control Commission denied him due process
of law by failing to grant him either
immunity or a stay of the proceedings.

During the 1982 hearings before the

-T2a-

Commission, the Division called Gerace as
a witness. Gerace declined to testify on
the ground that his answers might
incriminate him. Gerace requested that
the Commission grant him immunity or a
stay of the proceedings until resolution
of a pending Grand Jury investigation.
The Commission refused both requests.
Gerace now argues that the Commission
violated his constitutional right to due
process.

On May 25, 1982, the Division
petitioned the Commission to grant Gerace
immunity for the deposition testimony

pursuant to N.J.S.A. 5:12-67. However,

the Division imposed two restrictions on
the grant of immunity. First, the record
would be sealed and remain so until
further order by the Commission. Second,
all parties and their counsel would be
prohibited from disclosing the contents of

the deposition. The Division claimed that

i

-73a-

sealing the transcript was necessary to
protect other law enforcement agencies in
their ongoing investigations. On May 26,
1982, the Commission granted the Attorney
General's petition and incorporated the
protective measures. Gerace was deposed
by the Division on May 28, June l, 2, and
3, 1982.

The Commission hearings began in
June 1982. On July 14, 1982, the Division
requested that the Commission partially
unseal the deposition transcripts in order

to review, in camera, portions of Gerace's

testimony. Gerace's counsel never took a
position on the Division's request. The
Commission denied the request, stating
that it would only accept testimony
presented publicly, in compliance with the

Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6

et seq., N.J.S.A. 5:12-73(b). For the

Same reason, the Commission denied the

-74a-

Division's petition to have Gerace provide

live testimony in camera.

On July 27, 1982, Frank Gerace was
called as a witness and invoked his Fifth
Amendment privilege in response to all
substantive questions. The Division
refused to request immunity for Gerace's
testimony before the Commission, again due
to the ongoing criminal investigations.
Counsel for Gerace then requested a stay
of all Commission proceedings until the
Grand Jury investigations were concluded.

The authority of the Casino Control
Commission to confer testimonial immunity

upon a witness is established by N.J.S.A.

5:12-67, which provides in part:

If, in the course of any
investigation or hearing
conducted under this act, a
person refuses to answer a
question or produce evidence
on the ground that he will be
exposed to criminal
prosecution thereby, then in
addition to any other remedies
Or sanctions provided for by
this act, the commission may,
by resolution of four of its

-73a-

members and after the written
approval of the Attorney
General, issue an order to
answer or to produce evidence
with immunity. (emphasis
provided).

Determinations with regard to the grant
of immunity, have been delegated to the
sole discretion of the Attorney

General. In re Tuso, 73 N.J. 575, 579

(1977).

Gerace first claims that the
Division acted with “unclean hands" by
seeking immunity for him in order to
obtain his deposition. He claims that by
refusing to seek immunity at the
Commission's public hearings, the Division
effectively prevented him from rebutting
their testimony. Thus, the Division
received the benefits of his testimony,
without the disadvantage of enabling him
to defend himself at the Commissicn's

disqualification hearings.

-76a-

The Division denies receiving any
benefit from Gerace's deposition

testimony. In United States v. Serace,

976 F.Supp. 1185 (D.N.J. 1983), upon
defendant Gerace's motion to dismiss the
pending indictment’, the federal court
held that the government overcame its
heavy burden of establishing that the
investigation and upcoming trial of Gerace
was in no way tainted, directly or
indirectly, by his previous testimony
Given under a grant of immunity. The
judge found that the proposed evidence was
derived from legitimate sources
independent of the immunized testimony.

The Division contends that it was to

The indictment alleged Gerace
embezzled money in connection with the
renovation work done by Toro
Construction Company on Local 54's
headquarters. Counsel had stipulated
that defendant's previous immunized
deposition testimony covered matters
which were the subject of this
prosecution.

-7la-

protect the grand jury investigations that
it sealed the deposition testimony.
Although federal prosecution of Gerace
would have been possible even after a
public release of the immunized testimony,
it would have placed a heavy burden on the
prosecutor to show the investigation was

not tainted. See United States v. Smith,

580 F.Supp. 1418, 1425 (D.N.J. 1984).
Gerace's accusation that the Division was
only concerned with the future federal
prosecution, therefore, must fail. We
also note that Gerace never supported the
Division's petition that the deposition be

reviewed by the Commission in camera.

Gerace also argues that the lack of
immunity rendered the Commission's
proceedings one-sided. The record
indicates, however, that 16 witnesses
testified on behalf of Local 54 and its
officers. Warren Borrish, for example,

testified that Gerace's relationship with

~76a-

Scarfo was strictly social. Other
witnesses testified that Gerace was an
effective and honest labor representative.
Gerace was thus able to introduce evidence
on his behalf without personally
testifying.

Gerace next argues that his failure
to testify deprived the Commission of
Crucial evidence. Gerace claims that
because there was no direct evidence of
influence by Scarfo, the Commission was
obligated to grant Gerace immunity in
order to have a complete factual record.
Gerace, however, ignores the mass of
circumstantial evidence presented against
him.

Neither state nor federal courts
have recognized a due process right to

immunity. In Ryan v. State of Montana,

580 F.2d 988 (9 Cir. 1978) cert. den., 440
U.S. 977, 99 S.Ct. 1548, 59 L.Ed.2d 796

(1979), for example, the Ninth Circuit

-79a-

determined the State was not required to
grant a probationer immunity from use of
testimony given at a combined probation-
revocation and deferred sentencing hearing
at a time when he was under criminal
indictment for the same act. Ryan moved
for a continuance of the revocation-
sentencing proceeding until after his
trial on the criminal charge. His motion
was denied. Ryan subsequently argued on
appeal that he had been denied due process
by being forced to elect to remain silent
at the sentencing hearing and risk
revocation of his probation, or to speak
in his own defense and risk incriminating
himself on the criminal charge. 580 F.12d
at 990. The Ninth Circuit observed that
Ryan's decision whether or not to testify
was a strategic choice. 580 F.2d at 990.
The court refused to find a constitutional

right to immunity.

-80a-

The right to remain silent cannot be
infringed through any penalty for

asserting that right. Garriiy v. New

Jersey, 385 U.S. 493, 87 S.Ct. 616, 1?

L.Ed.2d 562 (1967). The infringement,
however, must be a direct consequence of
that assertion. Thus, a police officer
may not be discharged from office for
refusing to testify before a Grand Jury
about the performance of his duties.

Gardner v. Broderick, 392 U.S. 273, 88

§$.Ct. 1913, 20 L.Ed.2d 1082 (1968). That
is not the situation in this case. Gerace
was disqualified solely on the evidence
presented against him. Although the
Commission could have drawn adverse
inferences from Gerace’s failure to
testify without infringing upon his
constitutional rights, it chose not to.
Only a penalty directly drawn from the
invocation of the right to remain silent

is prohibited. See Duratron Corp. v.

-8la-

Republic Stuyvesant Corp. et al, 95 N.J.

404 (1967).

| Similarly, Gerace had no
constitutional right to a stay. Gerace
requested a stay on July 27, 1982, after
15 days of testimony had been completed.
In addition, the term of one of the
Commissioners was due to expire on August
4, 1982. The Commission inquired as to
when the Grand Jury investigation would
end. Counsel for Gerace could not give a
definite response.

Gerace's request for a stay was
premised on the Grand Jury criminal
investigation previously discussed.
Gerace's request, however, was tenuous in
that he stated he would testify without
immunity, only if the Grand Jury did not
return an indictment against him. The
Commission held that it could not stay the
hearings in light of the uncertainty as to

the length of the Grand Jury proceedings,

-82a-

its results and the impending change in
its composition.

The Commission's decision was
supported by New Jersey and federal cases.

In National Freight, Inc. v. Ostroff, 133

N.J. Super. 554 (Law Div. 1975), the

Superior Court denied defendant's motion
for stay. Ostroff faced both criminal
charges and a civil complaint based on the
same factual scenario. In denying
Ostroff's motion for stay of the civil
Suit until resolution of the criminal
charges, the Law Division judge stated:

To say that the civil suit
must remain in statu quo
indefinitely 1s to import to
the courts an impotency
unworthy of them. To compel
other parties to sit supinely
by while their rights or
possibility of recovery are
eroded is to invite contempt
for the law as well as to
permit any guilty party to
secrete or dissipate the
fruits of his wrongdoing. [133
N.J. Super. at 559]

-83a-

Similarly, in DeVita v. Sills, 422 F.2d

1172 (3 Cir. 1970), the Third Circuit
would not stay defendant's civil
proceedings until resolution of his
Criminal charges. In DeVita, a New
Jersey attorney and suspended County
District Court judge, sought to
restrain proceedings for disbarment and
removal from judicial office because of
@ pending indictment arising out of the
Same alleged misconduct. The Court of
Appeals held that, while plaintiff
could not be deprived of his right to
practice law as a direct consequence of
an invocation of his right to remain
Silent, his alleged right to have the
Criminal charges resolved before the
civil proceedings was without
constitutional basis. 422 F. 2d at
1177-1180.

Gerace's contention that he was

deprived of due process is without merit.

-84a-

Appellant was merely forced to elect
whether to defend himself against the
bivieiea’s allegations or to remain
Silent. The Division was not consti-
tutionally obligated to seek immunity.
Furthermore, the Commission was not
obligated to grant a stay pending the
resolution of the Grand Jury
investigation. Gerace was merely put to
the constitutionally acceptable choice of
whether to testify or to remain silent.
:

On August 6, 1984, the Division
petitioned the Commission for a
supplemental order which would directly
prohibit Gerace, Materio and LaSane from
acting as officers, agents, or principal
employees of Local 54. In response to the
petition, both Local 54, and Gerace,
Materio and LaSane, as individuals, raised
issues concerning the appropriateness of

additional sanctions. Appellants alleged

oats «=

-85a-

that new evidence, not previously heard by
the Commission, was now available which
nina establish that the Commission's
original disqualification order of
September 1982 was erroneous. Appellants
further alleged that the new evidence, by
way of testimony of Gerace and Materio,
would establish that the Commission's
findings of disqualification under Section
86(£) of the act were stale and moot. In
addition, appellants contended that the
Commission should reconsider the
disqualification cf LaSane.

On September 12, 1984, the
Commission heard oral argument on the
Division's petition for direct removal of
Gerace, Materio and LaSane. At that time,
appellants renewed their requests for a
reopening of the record. The Commission
denied appellants’ request, ruling that
the rehearing applications were not in

compliance with the act. On September 24,

-86a-

1984, Local 54, Gerace, Materio and LaSane
filed new petitions with the Commission
eankiin a rehearing of its decision and
supplemental order of September 12, 1984.
The Commission denied appellants’ requests
on September 26, 1984. Appellants now
challenge that decision. They allege the
Commission abused its discretion by
refusing to reopen the disqualification
hearings.

Administrative agencies have the
inherent power to reconsider and
redetermine prior decisions in appropriate

Circumstances. In re Trantino Parole

Application, 89 N.J. 347 (1982). Absent

legislative restrictions, the agency's
power to reopen and modify prior decisions
is limited by considerations of fairness
and reasonableness. 89 N.J. at 364.

N.J.S.A. 5:12-107(d) governs

rehearings by the Commission. Section

107(d) provides, in pertinent part:

~G7a-

The commission may, upon a
motion therefor made within
ten days after the service of
the decision and order, order
a rehearing before the
commission upon such terms and
conditions as may be just and
proper. Such motion shall be
granted only upon a finding
that there is additional
evidence which is material and
necessary and which would be
reasonably likely to change
the decision of the
commission, and that
sufficient reason existed for
failure to present such
evidence at the hearing of the
commission.

Thus, the Commission may, at its
discretion, reopen the hearings once
several procedural requirements have
been met.

The first restriction in bringing a
motion for rehearing is a ten day time
limitation embodied within the act.
Section 107(d) precludes the Commission
from granting rehearings on motions not
filed within ten days after the service of

its order. N.J.S.A. 5:12-107(d). The

-88a-

policy behind a time limitation was best
explained by the United States Supreme

Court in Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power

Corp. v. Natural Resources Defense

Council. tnc., $33 Ui8; 3139, Fe SiGe,

1197, 55 L.Ed.2d 460 (1978). The Court,
recognizing that a time gap exists between
the closing of an administrative hearing
and the rendering of a final decision (or
judicial review), stated:

..If upon the coming down of
the order litigants might
demand rehearing as a matter
of law because some new
Circumstance has arisen, some
new trend has been observed,
Or some new fact discovered,
there would be little hope
that the administrative
process could ever be
consummated in an order that
would not be subject to
reopening. [435 U.S. at
554-555, quoting, ICC v.
Jersey City, 322 u.5., 503,
514, 66 &,.ct. 1225, 2 1134, 88
L.Ed. 1420, 1428 (1944)]

The issue is whether appellants

timely filed their motion for

-89a-

reconsideration. Appellants argue they
are seeking a rehearing of the
Spe ee order of September 12, 1984.
The State, on the other hand, contends it
is the Commission's 1982 decision which
disqualified appellants in the first
instance, that they seek to reopen.
Gerace, Materio and LaSane contend
that the Commission's 1982
disqualification order and its 1984
Sanction order are interrelated. To
conduct a rehearing of the 1984 order, the
Commission must, by necessity, address the
merits of the 1982 disqualification. In
addition, they argue, the Commission's
1982 order directed sanctions against the
Union. It was not until 1984 that the
individual appellants were directly
impacted. If appellants’ argument is
accepted, their motion for reconsideration
was timely in that it was filed on

September 24, within ten days of service

-90a-

of the Commission's September 12, 1984
order.

The State claims that the
Commission's order of September 1984
merely imposed new sanctions to enforce
the disqualifications adjudicated in 1982.
Appellants’ motion, in that case, was
filed two years late and was properly
denied by the Commission. The State also
argues that the statutory bar is not
unjust in that appellants may seek early
relief from their disqualifications
pursuant to the Commission's reapplication

regulations, N.J.A.C. 19:41-8.8.

We need not determine which order
appellants are addressing in their motion
for reconsideration. The pertinent issue
here is whether the Commission abused its
discretion in denying appellants' motion.

The Commission denied the motion for

rehearing by finding appellants failed to

-9Sla-

comply with all the requirements

delineated in N.J.S.A. 5:12-107(d).

That section establishes four
requirements for bringing a motion for
rehearing. The moving party must show
that: (1) there is additional evidence;
(2) the evidence is material and
necessary; (3) it would be reasonably
likely to change the Commission's
decision, and (4) there was su ficient
reason for failing to present the evidence

at the hearing. N.J.S.A. 5:12-107(d).

The Commissicn has the discretion to grant
a rehearing only upon a showing of the
factors delineated above.

Gerace contends he satisfied all
necessary statutory requirements for a
rehearing. His rehearing petition was
based entirely on his present willingness
to testify before the Commission. He

contends that he was unable to testify in

1982 because he was the subject of a grand

-92a-

jury investigation; also that this
testimony is material and necessary and
erastate new evidence that would change
the Commission's decision.

Gerace sought to open the record to
testify before the Commission on the
following matters: (1) his association
with Scarfo since 1982; (2) his alleged
business dealing with Scarfo's associates;
(3) his appointment to union posts of
persons allegedly tied to Scarfo, and (4)
Scarfo's alleged influence on Local 54.
Gerace claims his testimony presents new
evidence because he did not have the
opportunity to testify before the
Commission. He also claims that the
evidence is material and necessary because
it directly rebuts the Division's
allegations that he was influenced by
Scarfo in his business dealings. Gerace
reminded the Commission that the Division

elicited four days of deposition testimony

-93a-

from him, a further indication of the
importance of his testimony. He also
errs that his testimony would change
the outcome of the disqualification
hearings. Since three Commissioners have
joined the Commission since the 1982
hearings, his testimony would enable them
to judge his credibility for themselves.
Gerace claims that his testimony would
also demonstrate to the Commission that
the feared “inevitable detrimental effect”
has not materialized in the two years
since the 1982 proceedings.

The Commission had determined at its
September 26, 1984 hearing, that Gerace's
representations were "vague and
conclusory” and failed to demonstrate the
materiality or necessity of his testimony.
The Division noted that sixteen witnesses
were produced on behalf of Local 54.

Those witnesses testified that Scarfo's

and Gerace's relationship was strictly a

-94a-

social one, and that Scarfo exercised no
influence over Local 54. To the extent

that Gerace's testimony would relate to

pre-1982 events, it is merely cumulative
Or impeaching.

Any testimony relating to events
after the 1982 hearing is irrelevant in
addressing the Commission's original
disqualification decision. Evidence
relating to events which occurred between
1982 and 1984 is relevant in the context
of a.petition for reapplication pursuant

to N.J.A.C. 19:41-8.8. That regulation

a

precludes any natural person found
disqualified from reapplying for licensure
for five years from the date of the
Commission's ruling. However, subpart (g)
also provides, that any person barred for
the five year period, may petition the
Commission to permit reapplication at any

time. N.J.S.A. 19:41-8.8(g). Once the

procedural criteria have been met, the

-95a-

Commission may grant early reapplication
at its discretion. Appellants argue that
sina a the Commission's unfettered
discretion, reapplication provides them
with no effective remedy. The eet.
however, provides explicit guidelines
regarding the timing and nature of
rehearing applications. In the instance
of Gerace's testimony concerning events
which occurred after the disqualification
hearings, the statutory guidelines have
not been met.

The Commission also challenges
Gerace's contention that the change in
their composition warrants 42 rehearing.
The Casino Control Commission is a
continuing body. Gerace's contention that
a rehearing is necessary SO that the three
new members can express their positions is
without merit. To the contrary, the
substantial change in the Commission's

composition renders 4a rehearing

BEST AVAILABLE COPY

-96a-

inappropriate. If a rehearing is granted,
only two Commissioners would be able to
weigh the new evidence against the
testimony taken at the 1982 hearings.
Finally, Gerace's explanation for
his inability to testify before the
Commission in 1982 does not meet the
statutory requirement of "sufficient

reason." N.J.S.AN 5:12-107(d). Gerace

was the subject of a federal grand jury
investigation at the time of the 1982
proceedings. His decision not to testify
was a tactical choice. The Commission is
not obligated to relieve him of the
consequences of that choice because of a
change of mind two years later. The
Commission did not abuse its discretion in
refusing to reopen the record to elicit
Gerace's testimony.

The argument on behalf of Materio
for a rehearing is more tenuous. Materio

testified before the Commission during the

Fra

1982 disqualification hearings and,
therefore, Gerace's fairness argument is
‘nhoetieeble as to him. However, Materio
now wishes to testify that: (1) he no
longer performs work that is related to
the Casino industry; and (2) he no longer
associates with Scarfo in a manner that is
"inimical" to the policies of the act.
Materio claims that his testimony
would dispel the Commission's fear of a
"Scarfo effect." Although Materio's
testimony would produce "additional"
evidence not before the Commission at the
1982 hearings, it 1S inappropriate at this
time. As in the case of Gerace, evidence
regarding events which occurred after the
disqualification hearing are relevant only
for reapplication procedures, pursuant to

N.J.A.C. 19:41-8.8.

Materio also wishes to offer proof
that he no longer functions in any

Capacity involving the representation of

-98a-

casino employees. The Division argues
that Materio's present non-participation
in the ere industry does not rebut his
disqualification. The Commission's orders
could easily be evaded by changing or
vacating positions, if that were the case.
Furthermore, Materio did not resign his
union offices until November 29, 1984.

The Commission did not abuse its
discretion by refusing to reopen the

.- record to obtain Materio'’s testimony.
LaSane, like Materio, testified
‘fully at the disqualification hearings.
His rehearing petition is based on
additional evidence regarding: (1) his
exemplary conduct in office in the past
two years; (2) the fact that his
conviction is now more than ten years old,
and (3) his union responsibilities are
unrelated to employees licensed under the

act.

-99a-

LaSane's conduct since 1982 is not
relevant to a rehearing. Action which
occurred utter his disqualification is
relevant, if at all, to a petition for

early reapplication, pursuant to N.J.A.C.

19:41-8.8. LaSane filed a reapplication
petition with the Commission in November
1984 which was pending as of the date of
this appeal.

In addition, a ten year old
conviction does not automatically absolve
one of disqualification. Conversely,

N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(c)(4) provides that those

whose convictions are more than ten years
old have the opportunity to rebut the
automatic disqualification procedures of
section 86(c). LaSane was given that
opportunity in 1982. However, the
Commission chose not to waive
disqualification.

LaSane finally complains that he was

unable to demonstrate to the Commission

-100a-

that his present employment with Local 54
is unrelated to the casino industry.
LaSane's sxeumans suffers the same
fundamental defect as that advanced by
Materio. LaSane, too, did not resign his
union position until November 1984. The
Commission was not required to consider
testimony relating to his new
responsibilities. We find no error.

VE.

On September 12, 1984, the
Commission ordered Gerace, Materio and
LaSane to cease acting as officers, agents
or principal employees of Local 54.
Appellants argue the Commission acted
outside its statutory scope by imposing
sanctions directly against the union
officials.

In July 1984, the United States
Supreme Court upheld Section 93(b) of the
act against a challenge that the provision

was preempted py federal labor law. See,

-10la-

Brown v. Hotel and Restaurant Employees

and Bartenders International Union Local

54, 468 U.S. , 3ee £.ot., 237%, -22

L.Ed.2d 373 (1984). The Court held,
however, that the Commission's sanctions
could not interfere with the ability of
Local 54 to act as an effective bargaining
agent, and remanded the case to the
District Court, for further findings

consistent with its decision. 104. §.Ct.

at 3196.

On August 6, 1984, the Division
petitioned the Commission for a
supplementary order. The Division
specifically requested the removal from
Local 54 of Gerace, Materio and LaSane.
The Division cited Sections 64, 129(7) and
75 of the act to support its request.

The order issued by the Commission
did not address itself in any way to Local
54, but aimed the sanctions directly

against the disqualified union officials.

ee

-102a-

Appellants contend the Commission
was without the statutory authority to
issue the September 12, 1984 order. In
advancing their position, appellants
advocate that a strict construction of
Section 93 supports appellants' position.
However, as the State argues, appellants’
interpretation renders the Commission
powerless in several circumstances. Thus,
a broader reading of the statutes is
mandated; one that encompasses the
legislative intent.

The disqualification hearings before
the Commission were brought in accordance
with Section 93 of the act which provides,
in pertinent part:

a. Each labor organization,
union or affiliate, seeking to
represent employees licensed
under this act and employed by

a casino hotel or casino
licensed shall register

b. No labor organization,

union or affiliate registered
or required to be registered
pursuant to this section and

-103a-

representing or seeking to
represent employees licensed
under this act may receive
dues from any employee
licensed under this act and
employed by a casino licensee
or its agent, or administer
pension or welfare funds, if
any officer, agent, or
principal employee of the
labor organization, union or
affiliate is disqualified in
accordance with the criteria
contained in Section 86 of
this act. The Commission may
for the purposes of this
subsection waive any
disqualification criterion
consistent with the public
policy of this act and upon a
finding that the interests of
justice so require. (emphasis
provided; N.J.S.A. 5:12-93)

The express language of Section 93
indicates it is the labor organization
that must register under the act. In
addition, it is the union against which
the authorized sanctions are to be
imposed. Conspicuously absent from the
language of Section 93 is any indication

that union officials are deemed

-104a-

"registrants" within the scope of Section
93, and are thus subject to individual
sanctions.

Appellants argue that it is the
express language of Sections 93(a) and (b)
that is controlling. The language of that
provision indicates that regulation of
labor organizations and their officers was
to be accomplished through the
registration of the institution itself.

If the Legislature had intended otherwise,
appellants argue, it would have drafted
the language of Sections 93(a) and (b) to
permit sanctions directly against union
officers and agents.

The State acknowledges that N.J.S.A.

5:12-93 does not explicitly empower the
Commission to issue sanctions directly
against union officers. The State
contends, however, that the act delineates
a procedure designed to indirectly coerce

the removal of disqualified officials.

=

-105a-

Should this indirect coercion fail, the
State arques, the Commission cannot be
left seveehons to protect the casino
industry.

The express language of the act must
be read in light of the legislative intent
which was incorporated into the act itself

in N.J.S.A. 5:12-1. It provides that it

is the policy of this State to regulate
and control all aspects of the casino
industry. This policy was further
expressed by our Supreme Court in Knight

v. Margate, 86 N.J. 374 (1981), where the

Court held:

because casino operations
"are especially sensitive and
in need of public control and
supervision,” the statute
dictates that "the regulatory
and investigatory powers and
duties shall be exercised to
the fullest extent consistent
with law to avoid the entry"
into casino operations,
directly or indirectly, of
persons whose economic or
occupational pursuits are
violative of the "criminal or

——

-106a-

civil policies of this State.”
[86 N.J. at 382, quoting,
N.J.S.A. 5:12-1(b) (9);
emphasis added]

Appellants argue that Section 93 of
the act imposes sanctions that are penal
in nature, and therefore, the expansive
view of that provision, as advocated by
the State, must fail. They claim that the
Commission forced the removal from office,
under threat of contempt, of union
officials who were otherwise legally
pursuing their livelihood. The
Commission's order merely substituted
another sanction for that expressly called
for by the act and, thus, the penal nature
of Section 93(b), and the Commission's
action has not changed. Given the penal
nature of the applicable provisions,
appellants argue, Section 93 must be

strictly construed. State v. Grant, 196

N.J. Super. 470, 480 (App. Div. 1984).

-107a-

Most of the provisions of the act
are regulatory rather than penal in
nature. The: Gente argues that those
provisions applied by the Commission,
Sections 64, 129(7) and 75, are
regulatory. In addition, assuming
arguendo that Section 93 sanctions can be
penal, they are not as applied in this
case. The cases cited by appellants on
their behalf involve individuals who were
deprived of their livelihoods by the

suspension of their license. See, New

Jersey State Board of Optometrists v.

Nemitz, 21 N.J. Super. 18 (App. Div.
1952). Here appellants may work as union
officials in this State as long as they
are not affiliated with the casino
industry.

In its petition for supplemental
sanctions, the Division cited several
other sections of the act which govern the

Commission's authority. Section 64, which

-108a-

regulates the Commission's powers and
sanctions, provides in pertinent part:

The commission shall assure
that licenses, certificates,
Or permits shall not be issued
to nor held Sy, nor shall
there be any material
involvement, directly or
indirectly, with the licensed
casino operation or the
ownership thereof by,
ungualified or disqualified
persons or unsuitable persons,
Or persons whose operations
are conducted in a manner not
conforming with the provisions
of this act. For the purposes
of this section, “unqualified
person,” "disqualified
person,” or “unsuitable
person" shall mean any person
who is found by the commission
to be disqualified pursuant to
the criteria set forth in
Section 86 .¢.;'4.; t., Se, 2
h., or to lack the financial
responsibility and capability
specified in the provisions of
section 84. In enforcing the
provisions of this act, the
commission shall have the
power and authority to deny
any application; limit or
restrict any registration,
certificate, permit or
approval; suspend or revoke
any license, registration,
certificate, permit or
approval; and, impose a
penalty on any person

-109a-

licensed, registered, or
previously approved for any
cause deemed reasonable by the
commission pursuant to rules
and regulations promulgated
thereby .... (emphasis added;
N.J.S.A. 5:12-64).

This provision comfers broad powers
on the Commission to take actions against
"disqualified persons." Liberally
construed in light of the legislative
intent, the Commission's powers under
Section 64 to impose sanctions directly
against the three officials is evident.
The Commission's authority to take actions
directly against union officials is also
sanctioned by a strict construction of the
provision. The expressed purpose of
Section 64 is to exclude "disqualified"
persons from direct or indirect
involvement in casino operations. Local
54, and its officers, are "materially
involved" in the daily activities of the

Casino industry through the employment,

-110a-

management and discipline of casino hotel
employees. In addition, the union
officials "registered," pursuant to

N.J.S.A. 5:12-40 and 41. A

"registration," as provided by this act,

is "any requirement other than one which

requires a license as a prerequisite to
conduct a particular business as specified

by this act.” N.3.8.A. 5:12-40. Thus,

even given a strict construction, the
Commission was empowered to disqualify
Gerace, Materio and LaSane pursuant to
Section 64.

In addition, the Commission was
empowered to issue a "cease and desist”
order against the union officials pursuant

if Fe FF 5:12-129, which states, in

pertinent part:

In addition to any penalty,
fine or term of imprisonment
authorized by law, the
commission shall, after
appropriate hearings and
factual determinations, have

-llla-

the authority to impose the
following sanctions upon any
person licensed or registered
pursuant to this act:

(7) Enter a cease and desist
order .... (N.J.S.A. 5:12-129]

As previously mentioned, appellants are

"registered" pursuant to N.J.S.A. 5:12-40.

The final provision cited by the

Division in its petition, N.J.S.A.

5:12-75, dispels any doubt as to the
propriety of the Commission's order.

N.J.S.A. 53:12-75 states:

The commission may exercise
any proper power or authority
necessary to perform the
duties assigned to it by law,
and no specific enumeration of
powers in this act shall read
to limit the authority of the
commission to administer this
act. (emphasis provided)

This provision emphasizes the clear
authority of the Commission to take any
steps necessary and proper in its
enforcement of this act. Read in
conjunction with the legislative intent

embodied in the act, N.J.S.A. 5:12-1, we

-ll2a-

conclude that the Commission properly
issued direct sanctions against Gerace,
Materio and tac.

The Comission's findings that Gerace
and Materio associated with career
offenders are supported by the evidence.
The continual participation of Gerace and
Materic in the casino industry creates an
unacceptable risk of corruption. in light
of the State's compelling interest in
protecting the gaming operations, an
infringement on appellants’ First
Amendment right of association is
warranted. in addition, the Commission
did not deny Gerace due process by failing
to grant him a stay or immunity in 1982,
or by failing to reopen the record for a
rehearing in 1984.

The decision of the Casino Control

Commission is affirmed.

-ll3a-

STATE OF NEW JERSEY
CASINO CONTROL COMMISSION
DOCKET NO. 81-L0O-1

IN THE MATTER OF THE HOTEL AND :

RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES AND : OPINION

BARTENDERS INTERNATIONAL UNION

LOCAL 54.

BEFORE:

Don M. Thomas, Acting Chairman
Martin B. Danziger, Commissioner
Joel R. Jacobson, Commissioner
Madeline H. McWhinney, Commissioner
Carl Zeiz,Commissioner

APPEARANCES:

For the Casino Control Commission:
John R. Zimmerman, Senior
Assistant Counsel
Timothy J. O'Neill, Assistant

Counsel

For the Division of Gaming Enforcement:

Robert B. Sturges, Acting Director
James F. Flanagan, III, Deputy

Director

Gary A. Erhlich, Deputy Attorney
General

Mitchell A. Schwefel, Deputy Attorney
General

Eugene M. Schwartz, Deputy Attorney
General

-lléa-

For Local 54:

Bernard N. Katz, Esq.

Michael Katz, Esq.

Meranze, Katz, Spear & Wilderman, Esqs.

For Frank Gerace:

Ronald F. Kidd, Esq.

Duane, Morris & Heckscher, Esqs.

On May 11, 1981, the Division of
Gaming Enforcment (Division) filed a
letter report with this Commission in
which it alleged that three officials of
Hotel and Restaurant Workers and
Bartenders International Union Local 54

were disqualified under section 86 of the

Casino Control Act, N.J.S.A. 5:12-86. The

Division therefore urged the Commission to
impose the sanctions provided by section

93 of the Act, N.J.S.A. 5:12-93, against

Local 54. The Commission scheduled a
hearing. Local 54 then filed suit in the
Federal District Court for the District of

New Jersey seeking, inter alia, to enjoin

-115a-

the enforcement of sections 86 and 93 of

the Act against it. See, Hotel and

Restaurant Employees and Bartenders

International Union Local 54 v. Danzinger

(sic), et al., 536 F.Supp. 317 (D.N.J.

1982). At the request of the Court the
Commission adjourned the hearing pending
disposition of Local 54's motion for a
preliminary injunction. Following the
denial of that motion, the hearing before
the Commission was again scheduled. On
April 30, 1982, prior to the commencement
of the hearing, the Division filed a
second letter report in which it cited two
additional employees of Local 54 as
suffering from section 86 disqualification
and again urged that the section 93
sanctions be imposed against the Union.
The Commission thereafter held the
hearing, during which it considered the
issues raised in both the May ll, 1981,

and April 30, 1982, letter reports.

-ll6a-

Before proceeding to the resolution of
those issues, we will briefly describe the
statutory provisions involved. Section 93
of the Act provides that a labor union
which seeks to represent persons licensed
or registered under the Act and employed
at a casino hotel must register annually

with the Commission. N.J.S.A. 5:12-93(a).

Local 54 represents approximately 14,000
waiters, kitchen workers, bartenders,
porters and other hotel workers, the large
majority of whom are employed in the
casino hotels in Atlantic City and are
licensed by or registered with the
Commission. Thus, the Union is required
to register under section 93, and it has
done so.

Section 93 also empowers the
Commission to preclude any union which is
required to register from receiving dues
from any person licensed or registered

under the Act and employed in a casino

-117a-

hotel, and from administering pension or
welfare funds, if any officer, agent or
principal employee of the union is
disqualified under section 86, unless the
Commission waives the disqualification
"consistent with the public policy of this
act and upon a finding that the interests

of justice so require.” N.J.S.A.

5:12-93(b).

Section 86 of the Act enumerates
various disqualifying criteria, which
apply not only to officers, agents and
principal employees of labor unions, but
also to all persons who must be licensed
Or registered in connection with the
ownership, financing, management and
operation of casinos and casino hotels.
Only two of the section 86 criteria are
relevant to the present case. Section
86(c) disqualifies persons convicted of
certain enumerated crimes under New Jersey

law or of any equivalent offenses in any

_ *%

-118a-

other jurisdiction. N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(c).

Section 86(f) provides for the
disqualification of any person who is "an
associate of a career offender or a member
of a career offender cartel in such a
manner which creates a reasonable belief
that the association is of such a nature
as to be inimical to the policy of this

act and to gaming operations.” W.J.S.A.

5:12-86(f). This section defines a career
offender as "any person whose behavior is
pursued in an occupational manner or
context for the purpose of economic gain,
utilizing such methods as are deemed
Criminal violations of the public policy
of this state," and defines a career
offender cartel as "any group of persons
who operate together as career offenders."
In its initial letter report of May
11, 1981, the Division alleged that Local
94's secretary-treasurer, Robert Lumio,

and a member of its Executive Board, Frank

-119a-

Materio, were disqualified under section
86(c) by reason of criminal convictions,
and Lumio, Materio and the Union's
president, Frank Gerace, were disqualified
under section 86(f) by reason of their
association with certain career offenders
or career offender cartel members. Robert
Lumio died prior to the hearing before the
Commission, and thus his qualifications
were no longer in issue. During the
hearing it was established that the
statute under which Frank Materio was
convicted was later declared
unconstitutional and that he had been
granted a presidential pardon. The
Commission therefore ruled that it would
not find Materio disqualified under
section 86(c) based on this conviction.
Thus, with respect to Gerace and
Materio, the questions which remain for
consideration are (1) whether they are

associat with a career offender or a

Py

-120a- -

career offender cartel member, and, if so,
(2) whether the association is of such a
nature as to create a reasonable belief
that it is inimical to the policy of the
Act and to gaming operations.

In its second letter report, dated
April 30, 1982, the Division alleged that
two Union employees, Eli Kirkland and
Karlos LaSane, had been convicted of
Crimes enumerated in section 86(c).

During their testimony Kirkland and LaSane
described themselves as "business agents"
and "organizers" for the Union (T-248;
T-287; Dl; D8), and the Union contended
that they are not officers, agents or
principal employees within the meaning of
section 93. Kirkland and LaSane admitted

to their convictions, and certified copies

of the convictions were accepted into
evidence. It is clear that some of the
Crimes involved are among those enumerated

into section 86(c). However, the Union

-l2la-

urged the Commission to waive the section
86(c) disqualification of Kirkland and
LaSane and presented evidence of their
relibtiitetios aad of their value to the
Union's membership and the community at
large. Thus, with respect to these
individuals the issues before us are (1)
whether they are officers, agents or
principal employees of Local 54, and, if
so, (2) whether the Commission should
waive their section 86(c) disqualification:
consistent with the policy of the Act and
in the interests of justice as permitted
by section 93(b).

Prior to the hearing the Commission
ruled that the burden of proof of section
86 disqualification was on the Division.
The quantum of proof required is a
preponderance of the evidence. In the

Matter of the Application of Resorts

International for a Casino License, Docket

No. 79-CL-1 (1979), at 12. In determining

-122a-

whether the Division has met its burden we
will first deal with the evidence against
Gerace and Materio and then turn our
attention to Kirkland and LaSane.

GERACE AND MATERIO

I. ORGANIZED CRIME

The Division alleges that Gerace and
Materio are associated with career
offenders or members of a career offender
cartel, and thus it has the burden of
establishing the identity of the career
offenders and the existence of a career
offender cartel.

The Division presented extensive
evidence designed to prove that certain
persons are career offenders or career
offender cartel members. Counsel for
Local 54 and Gerace, who was separately
represented, repeatedly indicated that

they had no intention of litigating the

-l123a-

point (see, e.g., T455; Brief at 15).4

However, during summations counsel for
Local 54 questioned whether the Division
had met its burden on this threshold issue
(T2464). We find that it has.

There was substantial evidence
adduced during the course of the hearing
regarding the existence and structure of
Organized crime in the Philadelphia
metropolitan area and the southern portion
of New Jersey, including Atlantic City.
Much of this evidence was introduced
through the testimony of John Tamm and
James Maher, special agents with the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Gino
Lazzari, an agent with the Pennsylvania
Crime Commission, all of whom have

extensive experience in investigating

T refers to the transcript. D. refers
to the Division's exhibits. R refers
to Local 54's exhibits. C refers to
the Commission's exhibits.

-l24a-

organized crime (T429; 1002-1003; 1268).
They indicated that their familiarity with
the structure of organized crime and the
individuals involved therein was based
upon their own investigations,
intra-agency communications, contacts with
other law enforcement agencies,
conversations with confidential
informants, authorized wiretaps and
discussions with purported members of
organized crime (T440; 462; 481; 1003;
1014).

These witnesses described an
Organization of men who routinely engage
in a variety of illegal activities
including gambling, loansharking, labor
racketeering, extortion, murder, arson,
pornography and narcotics trafficking
(T430; 452; 1015).

This organization is referred to by
its members as La Cosa Nostra which,

roughly translated, means "this thing of

-125a-

ours" (T429). La Cosa Nostra consists of
a number of groups commonly called
"families," which are generally identified
by the name of a significant figure in
that family (T451). Generally, each
family limits its selivirios to a
particular geographic area (T442).
Furthermore, each family adheres to a
basic hierarchical structure. The boss is
the head of the family (T1006), and the
underboss is the second in command (T449;
1007). The consiglieri or counsellor
advises the boss and assists him in
resolving intra-family disputes (T449;
1007; D54, at 62-64). iicekh the family
leadership are units known as regimes
which are headed by a capo (T4500; 1007).
Each regime consists of initiated members
of the organization called soldiers (T450;

1007).

-l26a-

The primary family which operates in
the Philadelphia-South Jersey area is
known as the Bruno family, so named for
Angelo Bruno, who reputedly headed the
family for a number of years until he was
murdered in March 1980 (T449; 451; D15).
Following Bruno's death it was reported
that his underboss, Philip Testa, assumed
control of the family (T1027; D18; D54, at
34). Testa had a lengthy criminal record
(D18). He was killed in a bomb blast in
March 1981 (T1028).

Agents Tamm (T544) and Lazzari
(T1028) testified that Nicodemo Scarfo now

heads the Bruno family (see also, R8, at

37-38). Scarfo has a lengthy history of
Criminal involvement. In March 1950, he
pled guilty to setting up an illegal
lottery and conspiracy (D97). In February
1964, he pled guilty to involuntary
manslaughter after being charged with

murder (D96). In June 1971, he was held

-127a-

in contempt for refusing to testify before
the New Jersey State Commission of
Investigation and was committed to
Yardville Correction Center (D92). In
July 1976, he was incarcerated for
refusing to answer questions before a
State grand jury investigating allegations
of obstruction of justice in a criminal
prosecution (D93). Lastly, he was
convicted of possession of a firearm by a
convicted felion in 1981 (D95). In
sentencing Scarfo to prison for two years
for this last conviction, the court
concluded: "Mr. Scarfo is surrounded by
violence" (D60, at 92, part 2).

There was evidence presented during
the hearing of Scarfo's recent involvement
in both loansharking and illegal gambling
endeavors (T487-88; D14; D60, at 38-42
first part).

On November 4, 1977, the FBI, using

a court-authorized wiretap, recorded a

-128a-

conversation at the Tyrone Denittis Talent
Agency among Nicodemo Scarfo, Philip
Testa, Harry Riccobene and Frank Narducci
(T534; D54). Both Riccobene and Narducci
have extensive criminal records (D21; D43)
and are alleged to have been associates of
Scarfo and Testa (T515; 1039). During the
recorded conversation the participants
referred repeatedly to "La Cosa Nostra"
(D54, at 56), “boss” (D54, at 40, 43, 54),
"underboss" (D54, at 34) and “consiglieri"
(D54, at 35, 36, 62), and clearly
indicated that they are members of the
Bruno crime family.

Scarfo further evidenced his
Criminal nature by attempting to recruit
members for his criminal group. Joseph
Salerno testified to Scarfo's efforts to
persuade him to become "a gangster"
(T678). Salerno is presently

participating in the federal witness

-129a-

protection program and his testimony will
be discussed at considerable length below.
In December 1979, a telephone list
was seized from Scarfo following his
arrest for the murder of Vincent Falcone
(T906-0). This list contained the
telephone numbers of numerous individuals
who have criminal records and have been
associated with organized criminal
activity (D9; D1l6), including Ralph Puppo
(T505-506, 1029; D60, at 45-46, first
part), Philip Testa (D18; D19; D109),
Lawrence Merlino (T1030), Salvatore
Merlino (T1028; D59, at 15), Alfred Iezzi
(T1030; D58, at 44), Nicholas Russo
(T1031), Frank Narducci (T1032; D20; D211),
Anthony Ferrante (D24; D25), Antonio
Caponigro (T525; D3l; D32; D59, at 45),
Ralph Napoli (T522-523; 1033; D29),
Anthony Casella (T1035; D58, at 45), Frank
Monti (T1035; D40; D58, at 48), Salvatore

Testa (T1036), Salvatore Profaci (D48),

-130a-

Lawrence Centore (D51; D60, at 100, first
part), Louis Pacella (T527; DS50) and Frank
Serpico (T530; D49).

We find that Scarfo is a career
offender and an active member of a career
offender cartel.

Numerous other individuals were
identified as being members of La Cosa
Nostra or associates of Scarfo during the
course of the hearing. However, we will
focus specifically on only four of these
men as relevant to the matter at hand.

Nicholas Virgilio has been twice
convicted of murder (D117-120), and has
been identified as a member of the
Philadelphia-based crime family (T1039).
He 1s a close associate of Scarfo (T943;
1225). We find that Virgilio is a career
offender and a member of a career offender
cartel.

Phillip Leonetti who is Scarfo's

nephew, was identified as a member of his

-l3la-

Crime syndicate (T676-7; 1041-42).
Leonetti and Vincent Bancheri are partners
in a concrete business called Scarf, Inc.
(D121). Joseph Salerno testified that he
was told by Bancheri that "Nick Scarfo was
really the boss, but they couldn't have
him in the corporation" (T667). The
Scarf, Inc. office is located at 28 North
Georgia Avenue, Atlantic City which
adjoins 26 North Georgia Avenue, the
residence of Scarfo (T675-6; D64).
Leonetti's criminal record consists
of several arrests, two of which were for
murder, and a single conviction for a
disorderly persons offense in 1975 (D47).
Salerno testified, and we find, that
Leonetti arranged a usurious loan to him
using assets derived from Scarfo (T487-88;
D14; D60, at 38-42 first part). We find
that Philip Leonetti is closely associated
with Scarfo and has engaged with him in a

Criminal enterprise.

-l132a-

Salvatore Merlino reportedly holds
the position of underboss in the |

Bruno-Scarfo family (T1028). According to

Salerno, Salvatore Merlino has assisted
Scarfo in his illegal gambling operation
(T487-488; D14; D60, at 38-42). Lawrence
Merlino has been identified as an
initiated member of La Cosa Nostra and a
close associate of Scarfo (T700-701; 710;
949; 976; 1043). We find it unnecessary
to make specific findings with regard to
the Merlinos' status as career offenders
or as members of a career offender cartel,
although their names will come up again in
this opinion.

We now turn the more difficult issue
- whether the Division has proven that
Gerace and Materio are associated with a
career offender or a career offender
cartel member "in such a manner which
creates a reasonable belief that the

association is inimical to the policy of

-l133a-

[the] act and to qaming operations”

N.J.S.A. 5:12-86(f). In this respect the

hearing focused on the relationships of
Gerace and Materio to Scarfo. We now turn
to the evidence concerning the existence
and nature of their relationships.

Il, RELATIONSHIP OF GERACE AND MATERIO
TO SCARFO

The evidence presented by the
Division on this issue is diverse and does
not lend itself to neat categorization,
which is understandable considering the
nature of the issue. We must consider
each of the areas raised by the Division
and the evidence adduced by all the
parties to determine whether the Division
has proven a section 86(f)
disqualification of Gerace and Materio.
We will begin with two pieces of
documentary evidence taken from Scarfo
when he was arrested for murder on

December 23, 1979.

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On December 16, 1979, Vincent
Falcone was murdered. Scarfo, Leonetti
and Lawrence Merlino were arrested and
charged with the murder. They were tried
and found not guilty.

As previously noted, at the time of
Scarfo's arrest a telephone list (D16) was
taken from his person (T906). A duplicate
thereof was taken from a dresser drawer in
his apartment at 26-28 North Georgia
Avenue (T908).

Law enforcement officials determined
that many of the names on the list were
aliases and many of the telephone numbers
were in code. After deciphering the code
they determined that generally, but not
invariably, the coded numbers related to
associates of Scarfo or of organized crime
or of organizations associated with
Scarfo. Many of the unccded numbers
related to reputable persons, such as

dentists and lawyers, not deemed to be

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associates of Scarfo (T920-922; 974; D9;
D10).

There were five persons on the list
who are or were employed by Local 54.
Frank Gerace was listed under the name
"Percy" and his telephone number was in
code. Frank Materio was listed by his
proper name and his business and home
numbers were listed in an uncoded fashion.
Robert Lumio, who served as secretary-
treasurer of Local 54 from September 1979
until his death in June 1981, was listed
as "Bob L," with an uncoded number. Frank
Lentino, a business agent for Local 54
(T1665) and, since June 1981, office
manager of its Camden office, was listed
as "Frank Gray," with coded phone numbers
for his home and a Teamsters local for
which he once worked. Susan Holland, the
branch manager of William L. Meyers, Inc.,
administrator of the health and welfare

funds for Local 54, and a "collector" for

-i 30a

the Local's severance fund (T924; 1732;
1904), was listed as "Percy girl," with a
coded number. In addition, Gerace's
mother, who also lives at 26-28 North
Georgia Avenue, was listed as "Percy Mom,"
with a coded number.

It can be inferred that the persons
on the list are those who Scarfo had

occasion to speak with or anticipated that

he might have occasion to speak with on

the telephone. In view of the constant
attention he receives from the police, it
can further be inferred that he kept
certain numbers in code because he did not
want evidence of his association with
those persons to fall into the hands of
the authorities. The appearance of five
Local 54 employees on the list is evidence
of Scarfo's interest in the Union and
access to its leaders, and his encoding of
the Gerace and Holland entries evidences a

desire to mask his association with them.

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The other document in question is
another piece of paper taken from Scarfo's
dresser drawer after his arrest for the
Falcone murder (D62). The writing on this
paper is less than clear, but, according
to the Division and according to our own
reading of the exhibit, it contains the
words: "KIS - POTS - GON ALL OUT BACK TO
54 ST. BEFORE FEB" (T936). The Division
alleges that the note refers to Thomas
Kissick, Ernest Potts and Thomas "Goony"
Walsh, and their removal as union
officials when Local 491 merged with Local
54 in September 1980.

Thomas Kissick was the head of Local
491, a bartenders local which originally
merged into Local 54 (T1824) sometime
around 1975 (R8, at 37). Thereafter
Kissick became secretary-treasurer of
Local 54 (T927). According to Warren
Borish, an attorney for Local 54, as

Casinos became a possibility in Atlantic

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City Kissick petitioned the International
Union to again split Local 491 from Local
54 so that he could again have his own

bartenders union (T1824), and in August

1979 Local 491 was in fact split from
Local 54 (T1825; R8, at 42).

Kissick was appointed acting
president (R8, at 42) or acting secretary-
treasurer (T937) of the new Local 491.

The International appointed Ernest Potts,
an International trustee, and Thomas
"Goony" Walsh, an International organizer,
to run the day-to-day affairs of the Local
(T927; 1825; 1859-1860; R8, at 42). The
International also directed the creation
of a joint board to oversee 491 and 54 and
Gerace became the chief executive officer
of that joint board (T1825-1826).

In September 1980, after one year in
existence, 491 again merged into 54.
According to Borish, this merger resulted

from 491's inability to survive on the

'-139a-

dues it was collecting and the desire of
the International to avoid having to
register under section 93 of the Casiino
Control Act as a result the existence of
thé joint board (T1826-1827). At any
rate, aS a consequence of the merger,
Kissick, Potts and Walsh were out of their
union jobs (T937).

We find that the words on D62 refer
to the ouster of Kissick, Potts and Walsh
from their union positions when 49]
remerged with 54. [It is true that there
1S no indication what the letters "st." on
the paper mean, and that the paper says
"before feb." and the remerger and
consequent removal of Kissick, Potts and
Walsh did not occur until September 1980.
However, the words on the paper are
sufficiently clear to support the
interpretation given by the Division. The
fact that Scarfo had the paper in his

possession indicates that he has an

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interest in the affairs of these unions
and in keeping up to date on who is
running them, and that he was supplied
with advance notice of the remerger of 491
and 54.

During the hearing the Division
attempted

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/brief%3Amicro_IA40385018_1429%3A2. Public record. Not legal advice.
