NEW YORK, June 2 (UPI) -- A New York City police detective and a retired sergeant were among 15 people arraigned Thursday on federal gambling charges, prosecutors said.
The defendants included a retired city firefighter, his firefighter son and another active-duty member of the department, WNBC-TV, New York, reported. The five, and 10 other people, allegedly ran poker games on Staten Island.
The defendants were freed on $70,000 bail after entering not guilty pleas in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn.
Sources told NBC News the police officers and firefighters were allegedly actively involved in running the games, including serving as dealers. Their alleged associates had nicknames like "Bayonne George."
The detective, Richard Palase, 46, has been in the department for 15 years with a clean record, his lawyer said. Palase is now assigned to Brooklyn.
"He's never been in trouble before," the lawyer, Peter Brill, said.
The other police officer was identified as Ralph Mastrantonio, a retired sergeant. The firefighters were identified as James and Michael Bergen and Gerald Parsons.
