Toms River Man Admits Role In Crime Family's Cocaine Dealing

A Toms River man with ties to the DeCavalcante organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra pleaded guilty to distributing more than 500 grams of cocaine, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced Wednesday.

John Capozzi, 34, of Union and Mario Galli, 23, of Toms River and another DeCavalcante associate, John Capozzi, 34, of Union, each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge William H. Walls to one count of distribution of more than 500 grams of cocaine, according to a news release.

Galli and Capozzi were arrested in March 2015 along with eight other DeCavalcante members in connection with a wide-ranging set of crimes that included plans to operate a brothel in Toms River. Galli and Capozzi were involved with cocaine dealing and between Dec. 12, 2014, and March 2015, in conjunction with other family associates, they sold more than one-half a kilo of cocaine to an undercover FBI agent for at least $78,000, according to the news release.

The drug distribution count carries a mandatory minimum of five years, a maximum of 40 years in prison and a $5 million fine, according to a news release from Fishman’s office.

Sentencing for both defendants is scheduled for March 21, 2016.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Richard M. Frankel in Newark; the N.J. State Commission of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Executive Director Lee C. Seglem; the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, under the direction of Executive Director Walter M. Arsenault; and the Union County Prosecutor’s Office, under the direction of Acting Union County Prosecutor Grace H. Park.