In the race for New Jersey governor, candidate Jack Ciattarelli has promised a tough stance on crime. However, scrutiny of his campaign donations reveals a list of contributors with controversial backgrounds, including alleged ties to organized crime and other criminal activities.
One notable donor is Louis Civello, Jr., whose father, known as “Louie the Leg-Breaker,” was reportedly associated with La Cosa Nostra. Civello operates a used car dealership in Bridgeton, which was implicated in a 2015 state investigation for tax evasion and money laundering. The inquiry suggested the business was a front, and Civello was found sharing a bank account with a convicted felon linked to organized crime. Despite these allegations, Civello has not faced criminal charges and contributed $5,800 to Ciattarelli’s campaign, the maximum permissible amount.
Another contributor, Joseph J. Fafone, also donated $5,800 to Ciattarelli. He is the son of Joseph P. “Boca Joe” Fafone, an alleged associate of the Gambino crime family. Both father and son were arrested in 2002 for running an illegal sports betting operation, with the elder Fafone serving two years in prison. In 2009, they faced prosecution again for a similar scheme, resulting in the younger Fafone pleading guilty and paying $2 million in fines.
Disgraced former Newark police captain Anthony Buono is also among Ciattarelli’s donors. Buono, involved in theft and conspiracy charges in 2009, was caught illegally accessing and selling information from an insurance fraud database. He received a two-year probation sentence.
Richard Costabile, who once owned Ironbound Floor Covering Inc., contributed to Ciattarelli as well. Costabile pleaded guilty in 2006 to bribing a Paterson school official in exchange for work contracts, leading to a two-year probation and a $2,000 fine.
Two other donors have faced allegations of health care fraud. Dr. Richard Lipsky was a principal investor in Silver Lake Hospital in Newark and was part of a $12 million settlement for Medicare overbilling claims. Similarly, William G. Burris was implicated in a state investigation alleging fraudulent practices at health care facilities he invested in, with ongoing risks of losing Medicaid funding.
Additionally, white-collar criminals have supported Ciattarelli’s campaign. Jeffrey Citron, once the CEO of Vonage, was fined $22.5 million by the SEC in 2003 for securities fraud, marking one of the largest penalties of its kind at the time. Citron and his wife each donated $5,800 to the campaign. Another donor, Robert O. Carr from Connecticut, faced a $250,000 fine for insider trading by the SEC.
Despite trailing in the polls behind Democratic opponent Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Ciattarelli’s campaign has received significant backing from the Republican National Committee, which has made substantial investments in what has become New Jersey’s most expensive gubernatorial race. Voters will head to the polls on November 4.
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