Jail, 20G fine for Borgata gambling-ring promoter

Reputed bigtime bookmaker Vincent Procopio yesterday pleaded guilty to promoting an illegal sports gambling ring that took in $60 million while operating inside the Borgata Hotel Casino poker room.

Under a plea agreement, Procopio, 42, of Philadelphia, entered his guilty plea before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael A. Donio, in return for a 364-day sentence in the Cape May County Jail, followed by probation.

Procopio, who must also forfeit $20,000, is to be sentenced on April 24.

Operation High Roller, a 20-month investigation involving 11 law enforcement agencies and headed by state police, found that Procopio was a top assistant to the day-to-day boss, Andrew Micali, 33, a former member of the 10th and Oregon gang in Philadelphia, who now lives in Ventnor, N.J.

On Dec. 15, the ringleader, Jack Buscemi, 51, of Mullica Hill, N.J., entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit money laundering; Micali pleaded guilty to usury. Both face five years in prison under plea agreements when they are sentenced Feb. 27.

Of the remaining 21 defendants, 15 pleaded guilty and two of those were sentenced.

The operation took bets on college and professional football and basketball. *