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Holy Rice-A-Roni - it seems the the man who brought new flavors of rice pudding to New Yorkers with Rice to Riches has been arrested for running a $21 million gambling ring! Peter Moceo, who lives at Trump Tower, was arraigned in Long Island; the AP also notes, "His 19 co-defendants included a concierge at Trump Tower, and a father who allegedly had his 9-year-old son relay point spreads via cellphone," - and Moceo's 69 year-old father. Suffolk Country D.A. Thomas Spota said it was "one of the largest gambling operations in Suffolk County," and explained "we're looking at enterprise corruption, money laundering and income tax violations." One brilliant thing that Moceo and his cronies devised was "vig-free Fridays," a day without interest for people placing bets! Moceo certainly knows his customers.
Just yesterday Gothamist was walking by the rice pudding emporium on Spring Street, wondering how business was doing, because it seemed like the downtown demand for high-end rice pudding might have tapped out. The AP says that no gambling business was conducted out of the shop, but we're still going to root through their trash, seeing if there's some sort of special code on the bags of rice or used cartons of cream.
Gothamist's Rice to Riches review and Tien Mao's visit.
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wow! this is just crazy news. no vig fridays does sound pretty good though. what about no juice mondays? then again, if there was no juice then he wouldn't make any money. maybe a reduced juice day?
and using his son to give out the spread. that's just insane.
Yeah, the name of the father who made his son a soldier in the Rice to Riches army wasn't released - to protect the welfare of the child.
I swear, every single business that's still open even though it should be closed by now MUST be a money laundering front.
"Enterprise corruption, money laundering and income tax violations."
Yeah Yeah yeah
The IRS is working overtime to help catch these people too. They're missing out on part of the $400 Billion (99% Illegal) business and they want a slice.
The gambling ring would nicely explain how it was possible to afford a year of construction...
Jake's review may have been the first post I read on Gothamist.
I stumbled into that eatery recently. The staff looked like they should be wearing orange jumpsuits. :)
If The Dumpling Man turns out to be a pimp I'm moving to New Jersey.
I knew this place was a front, laundering the pelf! Their take-away containers are so good we still have some from the opening week. And who can eat more than 3 oz. of cherry flavored rice pudding? Now we know it's not insanity, it's smart crime.
BTW, Please use a spell checker - you're in the big league now. Unless, of course "gamling" is a new crime.
Yuck rice pudding!, no offense but blargh!.
Hah. This is amusing as long as the store doesn't close up. That would make it a tragedy.
Reminds me of when the CEO Ranch1 got seriously busted for being tied to some sort of scheme or gang... cause at the time, I was eating there 3 times a week... someone jog my memory please, because my Google button is JUUUUUUSSSSST out of reach. (I'm incredibly lazy today)
You have to admit, for a front business, it's pretty convincing... you should see some of the store fronts in Carroll Gardens down Court Street. Like the comic book store whose entire inventory consists of a fistful of collector cards. Or the Key Food that sells second rate produce, for that matter.
BTW, Gamling was one of Theoden's lieutenants during the War of the Ring
Hey, if Key Foods is a front, then is the money past its freshness date too?
Their disposable containers are way too nice knew they were laundering something
Very funny to see this today as last night I was at the premier for "Hitch" on Ellis Island and one scene is set in Rice to Riches -- with a shot of the exterior just like on Gothamist. My rundown on the premier is posted here.
I love rice pudding but was not impressed with Rice to Riches the one time I went there. First of all, "flavored" rice pudding--yuck. I ended up ordering the classic "vanilla" after sampling some of the flavors. Second of all, it cost more than twice as much as you'd pay in a diner, and wasn't as good as what you could get at a diner.
Actually Andy, you're pointing to old-school stories being fronts on Court Street? What about the boutique stores on Smith Stret and Atlantic Avenue that never have any customers and sell a twee little amount of handmade goods.
A lot of old school stores aren't as much fronts as they are businesses that exist because the owners of the building "rent" the store portion out to cheap for family and friends.
The "new" boutiques and oddball restaurants that pay rent through the nose yet have no discernable customer base. Those are fronts.
That's why an overhyped rice pudding store that seems to have a shitload of $$$ invested into it is not a shocking front at all. Anyone looking at that place, the amount of real-estate used, the amount of design involved... One plus one equals two folks. Nothing shocking in that place being what it is.
And of course people who operate "new" boutiques on Smith St. and Atlantic Ave. (and 5th Ave. and Bedford Ave. and ya ya ya) aren't in anyway acquainted with people who hold deeds to any real estate whatsoever! In fact, most boutique types didn't even know that you can own real estate at all! They should just consolidate into a giant conglomerate and call it Dirt Weed Inc. Dude, I'd buy stock in that!
Actually, Generalizations, my observation is based on the fact that for the most part a boutique opens up, there's some minor hype, then 2-3 years later the place is shut down and another business pops up in it's place.
For example, Beacon's Closet is a great place. A really well run business that has a very solid customer base. In contrast, other small/hipster stores on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn seem to have no customer base whatsoever. That crappy record store "Something Else" comes to mind. They barely have any stock, the only "customers" seem to be friends of workers. And in this day and age of MP3s and iPods, a record store is something few people go to in droves anymore to say the least.
Ditto with the "Watch Repair" stores on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn. Who has actually had their watch repaired ever? Especially considering you can buy new ones in a drug store for $10? It's not a hipster store or boutique, but it's questionable at best.
Ragging on Key Food and a comic book store is frankly crass and blind to the fact that those places might be crappy, but could be existing for other reasons. "Rice to Riches"? Who the heck ever looked at that place and saw it as anything but a huge white elephant? It makes complete sense that place was--and is--a front.
Oh and I did date someone who owns a boutique on 5th Avenue in Brooklyn. And the "Dirt Weed" comment is right on the money. Selling $20 hand-knit scarves does not pay the rent. Small plastic bags with green stuff do bring in the green stuff.
Protect the poor heels who buy expired produce and overpriced comics! Do not laugh at their plight! It's serious bro.
Maybe I'm naive, or maybe I just don't care, but I never thought about it as a front one way or the other. What I DID think about was how much I love the rice pudding...I mean, we're talking obsession. OBSESSION. I can have eaten a five course meal and still want to go there for dessert. And I am not a large person. I will lay down and die if they close... unless maybe I could get the recipe.
I HAVE LIVED IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF "RICE TO RICHES" AND THE TELLS OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PLACE ARE UNBELEIVIBLE. THE TENANTS THAT LIVE THERE WENT THREW A LIVING HELL AND THERE ARE AT LEAST $75,000.00 OF FINES LISTED ON THE NY DOB SITE. WHAT'S UP WITH THAT?
i heard this guy was a feared mobster, and his father was a don. or underboss or something, in the mnafia. this is what i think and know people i know said when they were arrested stuff haooened to the family
i heard that to. MILLIONS OF DOLLARS in rackateeing and payoffs, and people that work for them peter m. is in the italian cosa nostra says people on the street,
I HEARD THAT TO. millions of dollars IN RACKATEERING AND GAMLING AND PAYOFFS who knows who they had under there sleeve peter m is a gangster thats the word on the street and his cousinis a captain in the family im not sure what family he is from, but it must be the gambino cause no other is that strong
i think he is from the gambino family i read somewhere that his cousin is a big time enforcer in the mob also
I saw his picture 1nce and he looks like a hard core gangster in the newspaer too his father looks like don corleone lol who knows?
his father looks like don corleone lol
I SAW HIS picture in the news a long tim ago they both look like hard core gangsters
First of all, usually people that are in this buisness are corrupt people, who look to take the short cut un life. Take the mafia for example. Without there guns, there nothing. Without his guns, thsi guy is notheing. As much as we don want to believe this resturant, is a gambling, guido infested place, they have good rice. And thats all that counts. When the news came on that night, all I thouhg of was the MOB. Even though he may be this "GANGSTER" if you will, Hes only trying to make a living for his family i guess.
Two words:ITALIAN MAFIA!! Definitely connected to the mafia.
I think all Itslian guidos like this guy are in the mafia. Ant then to hear his father was in this, hes a little to old to be beating people up for money. He should retire from the mob and work i n a sweat shop.
Are some of you people kidding me! So I guess what your saying is all Italian people are in the mafia. You must be some real pathetic liberal.
Get off it! Get a life. They did wrong. And they will pay. So I guess everyone walking the streets of New York are all upstanding citizens.
Why such an interest in this case??????
Why say the father is a don. Does he look
like the Godfather. Come on, Marlon Brando.
Get with it. So many people in this city
take numbers. It's been done for years.
Lemmi tell u all something. These people are gangsters, and proof is shown. Even if theyll pay, this wont stop em. and as for the poeple whi say bad things about thesse guys, you should. the mafia is weak without there weapons, and without there weapons, these guys are toast. CONNECTIONS TO THE MOB!!!!!! i no it for a fact. I new this guy.trust me. CONNECTED.
I really think you have the wrong people.
They seem to be real New York people just
taking a short cut in life. Trying to make ends
meet. I don't think you know them at all.
If you did, you would not be saying all this
about them.
You would keepa you moutha shutta.
Getta itta. Quitta while aheada.
To be honest, I really dont know about "Don" Moceo. But I do know about Peter Moceo jr. He is a cappo in the Italian mafia. I heard his fahter the "Don", like you people call him, was arrested earlier in the years to stop bad publicicty from hitting his son. Just like any mobster would do. Take the heat off a real tough gangster.
Well, I am very sorry you think that way.
Maybe you know these people personally. It
seems that you really do. Just because
someone takes on betting does not mean they
are totally in the mob. ????
To tell you the truth, poof was shown that the rice pudding guy, is in the cosa nostra, but im not sure about his father. I live in new york city, and have seen the guy. He drives around in a fancy truck, and basically, I know he is in the mob. And whoever keeps replying, you dont know anything about the mafia. Its a shame to say that he is, because that life is a bad life,and that life is not a cool life that i want to live, but it was his choice, and he did what he had to do.
I sometimes wonder why you seem very
interested in this person.
You must be fascinated by him. Or U
are just wrapped up in him. Obviously
he is still around.
Maybe you dont want to hear it man, but poeple like this are 99.99 percent of the time, connected, and have ties to the mob.
Thank you. Tehis guy just does not seem to get that this dudes a hard core mafia guy. And yes he is still around making collections. I saw him in China town. about a month ago. HE looks just as he did in the news.
Thank you. This guy just does not seem to get that this dudes a hard core mafia guy. And yes he is still around making collections. I saw him in China town. about a month ago. He looks just as he did in the news.
Do you people really believe, that the Rice man is not in the Italian Cosa Nostra? All signs lead to illegal gambling, in organized crime.
Do you people really believe, that the Rice man is not in the Italian Cosa Nostra? All signs lead to illegal gambling, in organized crime.
Peter Moceo is a captain in the Italian mafia. His father is a don, and they're both hard core mobsters. First of all, even if you people are right, who cares. Theyre making money, and thats it. Captain, don, underboss, soldier, or whatever. We know what they are, so drop the subject already.
Too bad for everyone.
Nothing will happen to these guys.
Shame, Shame.
I dont know anything about anyone, i just know things, from peopl talking about them. Second of all, I can talk when i want to, bacause i dont even no them personnaly. And third of all, I didnt write a comment in like 3 days buddy.
Godfather Moceo. Thats wierd to say. Don Gambino, Don Moceo. LOL
Don Moceo lives in Bensonhearst Brooklyn. He rented out upstairs to my friends aunt a long time ago. He asked his aunt about him, and she siad, there was always mobsters walking in and out of the house. She never knew if someone was going to get shot. They looked like real mobsters, from th e moveis, she said. Also , my friends aunt, said that she thinks once John Gotti was there for a big meeting, back in the 70's. Pretty kool, huh.
Come on and so what. I don't find that
unbelievable for Bensonhurst.
That's the way it was years ago.
Everyone knows that.
Moceo is the don of new york, is that what you are saying. His son is captain.
U R sick. Of New York?
You better get your facts straight.
I can not believe this.
mOCEO IS IN THE mafia and he is the don probably if not his son is definetly in the mafia as a captain.
i am very sorry, but I do not
believe U. PROVE IT!!!
If U knew this was true you would
not be blabbing about it on-line.
U know what can happen when U talk too much!!!
Don't U
I give all my respectand regards to the Moceo's. If the Don or the underboss, or any of the Moceo family ever needs anything im always there.
Moceo in the mafia. I give my respect also, to moceo, and the rest of the family. Moceo mafia.
Thank you
Im not sure about Don moceo, but i know for sure that peter moceo, is in the cosa nostra. For years they conducted illegal things and meetings.
its a sad world out there.
how do you know
prove it and ill believe u
tell me something
He is a rich Mobster, entrapaunur, and has probably whacked a lot of people for all the money. His father, probably has to.
NO WAY.
DO NOT BELIEVE U
SORRY
BRO, WAT THE HELL DO U CARE IF THERE IN THE MAFIA, WICH THEY, ARE, BUT THAT OTHER GUY IS RIGHT, THEY ARE.
OK, FINE. MAYBE THEY ARE.
just a few typical brooklyn mobsters, that are really old school, probably from the bonnano crime family or gotti's.
Moceo is just a typical brooklyn mobster, along with whoever else was involved in that whole major bust. Im not surprised, people like him, Italian brooklyn people, who come from a mob family, are most likely to "take over the family buisness" in a way. Just a few mobsters, not a big deal.
Mobsters from back in the day, and in our new day and age.