Brick Man Admits Role In Planned Toms River Prostitution Club

A Brick Township man has admitted to distributing cocaine and running a prostitution club in Toms River in Newark federal court on Wednesday, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said.

Anthony Stango, 34, of Brick, was arrested March 12 as part of a sweep of 10 alleged members of the DeCavalcante crime family of La Cosa Nostra, according to a news release from Fishman’s office.

Prosecutors allege that the crime family engaged in numerous offenses, including fraud, distribution of controlled substances, prostitution, gambling, the sale of stolen and contraband goods, murder, assault, extortion and other “crimes of violence.”

Among those arrested in March was Charles Stango of Henderson, Nevada -- Anthony’s father -- who allegedly is a captain in the DeCavalcante family. The Stangos allegedly planned to operate a high-end escort service targeting white-collar businessmen and professionals in the Toms River area, according to court documents.

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As part of the plan, their crew would establish a legal club as a front for the prostitution business in order to avoid law enforcement scrutiny, court documents said.

Charles and Anthony Stango discussed details of the operation, fees, and working conditions for the women on phone calls that were recorded by authorities, according to the documents.

During Wednesday’s court appearance, Stango admitted that on eight separate occasions from December 2014 to March 2015, he sold 500 grams to 1.5 kilos of cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer. He additionally pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls in Newark federal court to charges of use of the telephone in interstate commerce to conduct a prostitution operation; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Stango admitted possessing an H&R Pardner 12-gauge pump action shotgun, they said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.