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The fourth faction in northern New Jersey is
headed by Andrew Gerardo of Livingston. Based in
Newark, the group was originally led by the late
caporegime Ruggerio "Ritchie, the Boot" Boiardo.
It specializes in gambling, loansharking and labor
racketeering. Additionally, it has been alleged that
Gerardo has made investments in large construction
projects.
Much like the other faction leaders in the Genovese organization, Gerardo has also recently been the subject of a racketeering investigation and indictment. As a result of a two-year state undercover investigation, 16 persons in Gerardo's faction were indicted on arson, gambling, loansharking, racketeering and theft charges in May, 1987. Those indicted are accused of operating a $20 million-a-year gambling ring in Newark, Manhattan and Staten Island, and of bilking a union health plan out of $3 million. Using the racketeering statute, the state hopes to obtain forfeiture of $31 million in cash and assets accumulated by the group from its racketeering activities. Unfortunately, recent arrests and indictments against this faction have not had enough impact to warrant structural changes or cause permanent disruption of its illegal activities. In fact, it has expanded its membership, particularly in the area of gambling. In order to fill vacancies left by those arrested, the group has recruited bettors and others who were indebted to it to work as gambling operatives. This scheme had a two-fold benefit in that it was difficult for law enforcement to identify the new operatives, who also were able to work off their debts to the group.
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