2 men charged with running Phila.-N.J. gambling ring

Two Philadelphia men were indicted yesterday on charges of running a gambling ring in South Jersey and Philadelphia. New Jersey officials said Danilo Starita, 36, and Edward Wagner, 41, both of South 17th Street, were charged with conspiracy, theft by deception, promotion of gambling, and falsifying records. Starita was also charged with possession of gambling records.

Investigators from the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice said the ring also had operations in Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester Counties, and had hired agents to take bets and collect more than $1,000 a day. Pennsylvania and New Jersey officials said they had used warrants to seize gambling records at the South 17th Street home, a house on South 20th Street, and a condo in Margate that the two men owned.

New Jersey Attorney General Stuart Rabner said the men had "compounded their crimes" by falsely claiming legitimate jobs and income to obtain a $185,250 loan to buy the condo. Criminal Justice Director Gegory Paw said the men had been "living the high life, driving luxury SUVs and splitting their time between a newly renovated home in Philadelphia and the Margate condo."

The men face up to 10 years in jail and $150,000 fines for each of the second-degree charges of conspiracy and theft by deception, and five years and $15,000 for the third-degree counts.- Inquirer staff