DeCavalcante Crime Family Associate Pleads Guilty To Drug, Prostitution Operations

An associate of the DeCavalcante crime family of La Cosa Nostra admitted to distributing more than 500 grams of cocaine, running a prostitution operation and possessing a shotgun as a convicted felon in Newark federal court on Wednesday.

According to court documents, Anthony Stango, 34, of Brick, was arrested on March 12 as part of a sweep of 10 members of the DeCavalcante crime family.

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.”

During Wednesday’s court appearance, Stango admitted that on eight separate occasions from December 2014 to March 2015, he sold between 500 grams to 1.5 kilos of cocaine to an undercover law enforcement officer.

Prosecutors stated that during that same time period, Stango also worked to set up a prostitution operation in New Jersey.

Authorities allegedly recorded conversations between Stango and an unnamed conspirator from Nevada, where Stango discussed details of the operation, fees, and working conditions for the women.

Stango also admitted possessing an H&R Pardner 12-gauge pump action shotgun while being a convicted felon.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 26.