Former NYPD Detective Sentenced For Illegal PokerRichard Palase, 50, Avoids Prison Time In Case |
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A former NYPD detective received three years of probation and community service on Friday for running an illegal poker game on Staten Island.
Richard Palase, who was a member of law enforcement for 19 years, took a plea deal in February. He was one of 13 people busted for the underground poker games, which also included retired NYPD sergeant Ralph Mastrantonio, who was convicted in April.
Prosecutors had asked for a sentence of 15 to 21 months in prison for Palase, according to silive.com. His probation includes eight months of home confinement, in addition to the loss of his career.
The poker room was dubbed “5th Street”, and the operation served alcohol and food, in addition to taking a rake. Prosecutors said it took in thousands of dollars a night.
The game included firefighters as well. According to silive.com, one of the firefighters, Michael Bergen, had his charges in the case dropped and allegedly was threatened by Palase.
From the report:
According to court documents, Palase was walking his dogs on a Staten Island street when he saw Bergen in his car with his 2-year-old child. Palase repeatedly yelled, “You’re dead,” and made obscene hand gestures toward Bergen, including making “a hand gesture of cutting his head off,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Miller submitted in court filings. Bergen’s lawyer reported the incident to the court. Palase later testified that he had not threatened Bergen, but had only been rubbing a rash on his neck, according to the Daily News.
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