Official Charged in Gambling Ring Suspended Without Pay from Public Works Post

The Toms River Public Works official implicated in a $1 million-per-week gambling operation has now been suspended without pay from his township position.

Anthony Benyola, who was among the 13 to enter a not guilty plea last week for their alleged roles in a gambling ring that operated out of Monmouth County, originally was placed on suspension with pay from his deputy public works director duties.

After a disciplinary hearing before township officials on Monday, the 43-year-old was suspended without pay, according to township Business Administrator Paul Shives.

There are no current plans to name an acting director to the vacant post, according to officials.

“There will be somebody who will be taking up the slack of some of his duties, and that’s happening already. We’ve brought someone over to help,” Shives said.

On June 25, investigators said they seized more than $500,000 in cash and a dozen vehicles after executing warrants in Monmouth, Somerset, Essex, and Hudson counties and in New York City over the past week.

Benyola was arrested at his Toms River home and charged with second degree racketeering conspiracy, third degree promoting gambling, third degree possession of gambling records, first degree financial facilitation of criminal activity, and second degree conspiracy to commit the foregoing offenses, according to officials.

A 2009 BMW 750 series and 2011 Lexus LX5 were seized from Benyola’s home, according to authorities.

Because of Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts, Benyola recently concentrated on running things at the Department of Public Works headquarters while Director Lou Amoruso was out in the field.

“Lou Amoruso, who does a great job, was so busy with demolitions and things outside of the office that Anthony was the go-to running the place,” said Mayor Thomas Kelaher.

Township officials have said that it does not appear that any alleged gambling activity occurred while Benyola on the job.

The mayor learned of the news from the media and has not been in contact with investigators regarding Benyola, he said.

After the charges were originally announced, Benyola was suspended with pay from his position in accordance with his union contract, according to Shives.  

Should Benyola be found guilty of the charges, it remains unclear whether Toms River would be reimbursed the money paid to the deputy director while he is on suspension, township attorney Kenneth Fitzsimmons said last week.

"There is no one-size-fits-all answer," he said to a resident who asked the Township Council what happens in such situations.

Benyola was jailed in Monmouth County on $200,000 bail with no 10 percent option, according to a Monmouth jail inmate database, but posted out on June 26.

Authorities charged a total of 22 individuals in what they said is an extensive gambling and racketeering operation that involved Internet bookkeeping.