Cops: Franklin Square man was part of mob ring

A Franklin Square man was arrested on Nov. 30 for allegedly participating in a mob ring that recruited several Eastern European women to illegally enter the U.S. and work as exotic dancers at four strip clubs in Queens and Long Island.

Twenty suspects, including seven Long Island residents, were arrested and charged with being involved in the scheme, which, according to Manhattan federal prosecutors, was controlled in large part by the Gambino and Bonanno organized-crime families, which have long been on the radar of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Paul Casella, 45, of Franklin Square, who, according to prosecutors, is associated with the Bonanno family, faces charges of racketeering fraud, extortion conspiracy, visa fraud conspiracy and fraud relating to the transportation, harboring and entrance of illegal aliens.

Other Long Islanders arrested in the scheme include Tommy “Tommy D” Devitt and Anthony “Perry Como” Frascone of East Meadow, Lawrence Zaino of Westbury, Elena Turubanova of Dix Hills, Gerald Monfort of West Babylon and Oscar Zeledon of East Hampton.

According to an indictment unsealed last week by Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York; James Hayes Jr., Immigration and Customs Enforcement New York special agent; and Robert Goodrich, State Department Diplomatic Security Service special agent, the defendants lured Eastern European women with fake promises of waitressing jobs. The defendants controlled the four clubs used in the scheme through intimidation and threats of physical and economic harm, the indictment alleges, and the owners of the clubs — who were not identified — were forced to make payments in exchange for protection.

Once the women entered the country, they were forced to work as exotic dancers in the clubs, prosecutors said, and many entered fraudulent marriages with U.S. citizens so they could achieve legal status.