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Man Admits Staging Fake Robbery at Union County Pawnshop to File Insurance Claim

Union County

An Atlantic City man today admitted to staging a fake robbery of a Union County, pawnshop for the purpose of perpetrating an insurance fraud and to distributing illegal drugs, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito announced.

Officials say Salvatore “Sam” Piccolo, 67, of Atlantic City, a member of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra organized crime family, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Robert B. Kugler in Camden federal court to an information charging him with distribution 216 grams of methamphetamine and one count of wire fraud.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court: Piccolo admitted that on April 19, 2014, he and an accomplice entered a pawnshop in Union County, purportedly to sell some silver items. Once inside the shop, the accomplice displayed a hand gun while Piccolo, wearing a nylon mask, chained the front doors closed to prevent anyone from entering. The owner was bound, as a pretense, while Piccolo and his accomplice looted the safe of what the owner told police was approximately $60,000 in cash, several pieces of jewelry, and a hand gun.

The owner later submitted to his insurance company a fraudulent loss claim that was paid for approximately $174,000.

Officials say Piccolo also admitted making three sales of methamphetamine totaling 216 grams of the drug to an undercover FBI agent. Subsequent laboratory analysis determined the methamphetamine to be 99 percent pure.

The distribution of methamphetamine charge carries a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum penalty of life in prison; the wire fraud charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Both counts are also punishable by a fine of $250,000.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 18th.

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