Local man eyed in bust
Published on June 30th, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - Seven individuals, including a lifelong Stoneham resident, were arraigned Friday in Middlesex Superior Court after their arrests in connection with illegal gaming and the possession and distribution of narcotics. These arrests come as the result of a wiretap investigation conducted by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, the Essex County District Attorney's Office, and the State Police Special Services Unit over the past seven months. The investigation led to the indictment of the following individuals:
1. Frank DiFiore, age 54, of Reading, on the following charges:
- Conspiracy to traffic cocaine over 28 grams
2.Scott Martinelli, age 41, of Malden, on the following charges:
- Organizing or promoting gambling
- Using a phone for gambling
- Possession of a betting apparatus
- Possession of a class D substance with intent to distribute
- Possession of a class C substance with intent to distribute (3 counts)
- Possession of a class E substance with intent to distribute (3 counts)
- Possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute
3. Paula Penney, age 42, of Melrose, on the following charges:
- Trafficking oxycodone over 28 grams
4. Robert Raffael, age 51, of Wakefield, on the following charges:
- Using a phone for gambling
- Possession of betting apparatus
5. Robert Romboli, age 41, of Stoneham, on the following charges:
- Organizing or promoting gambling
- Using a phone for gambling
- Conspiracy to traffic cocaine
- Conspiracy of possess a class B substance with intent to distribute
- Possession of a betting apparatus
- Trafficking oxycodone over 28 grams
- Possession of a class D substance (2 counts)
- Possession of a class B substance (3 counts)
- Possession of a class B substance with intent to distribute
- Possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute (3 counts)
- Possession of a class C substance (3 counts)
6. James Viglione, age 47, of Melrose, on the following charges:
- Organizing or promoting gambling
- Using a phone for gambling
- Possession of a betting apparatus
7. Judith Viglione, age 46, of Melrose, on the following charges:
- Using a phone for gambling
According to authorities, in November 2003, the Essex County District Attorney's Office, in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police Special Services unit, sought and obtained a warrant to monitor the phones of specific individuals in Middlesex who had ties to Essex County.
In December 2003, authorities in Middlesex sought and obtained a similar warrant. As a result of monitoring these phone lines, investigators intercepted hundreds of calls indicating that Robert Romboli, James Viglione, and Scott Martinelli were running an illegal gaming organization, staffed primarily by Robert Raffael.
The organization took bets from hundreds of individuals betting on various sporting events. By monitoring phone calls, authorities intercepted numerous calls among these four defendants, as well as with Judith Viglione.
In the course of investigating the illegal gaming organization, authorities also discovered that Romboli was a distributor of cocaine and various prescription medications, including oxycodone.
Intercepted phone calls indicated that Frank DiFiore was responsible for cutting, weighing, and packaging cocaine for Romboli, and that Paula Penney was providing prescription medication to Romboli.
Authorities sought and obtained search warrants for the residences of James Viglione, Scott Martinelli, and Robert Romboli in February 2004. Upon executing the search warrant at Viglione's residence, State Police found a number of gaming records.
A search of Martinelli's residence resulted in the discovery of gaming records and a number of pills that were not consistent with personal use. Upon searching Romboli's residence, State Police uncovered gaming records, as well as prescription medications and approximately $490,000 in cash.
In addition, in May 2004, police encountered Raffael and found him to be in possession of additional gaming records. As a result of this long term investigation, a Middlesex Grand Jury returned indictments against all seven individuals Thursday. State Police took all seven into custody Friday night. At arraignment, all seven pled not guilty.
DiFiore's bail was set at $2,500; Romboli's at $5,000, and James Viglione's at $1,000. All three already posted said bail amounts following their arrests. The other four defendants were released on personal recognizance. All seven defendants are due back in court on August 23 for a pretrial conference.
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