Metro

Feds charge NYPD detective, two firefighters in illegal gambling ring

New York police detective and two city firefighters were among 14 people busted by the feds today — charged with operating an illegal gambling ring that ran high-stakes poker games on Staten Island.

Det. Richard Palase, 46, a 15-year NYPD veteran, was the alleged ringleader of the operation, which over several years took in thousands each week, a source told The Post.

Palase was suspended without pay.

Tucked away in four locations on Staten Island, high-rolling poker players laid down wads of cash on felt-topped tables presided over by dealers who were part of the operation’s heirarchy.

Gamblers were provided poker-night spreads of food, while armed “security” men were assigned to watch over the illicit operation and external security cameras were used as lookouts for law enforcement as well as wannabe robbers, the source said.

Along with Palase, retired NYPD sergeant Ralph Mastrantonio — who served 20 years on the force — was rounded up for allegedly helping run the money-making ring for more than two years.

Firefighters Michael Bergen, 35, a 10-year vet, and Gerald Parsons, 41, a seven-year vet, were also charged with helping run the illegal card games following an FBI probe. Both were suspended, sources said.

Bergen’s dad, James, 59, a retired city firefighter, was also arrested.

The defendants were charged in two federal indictments unsealed in Brooklyn federal court, all accused of a variety of gambling-related charges. FBI agents — assisted by detectives from the NYPD’s Internal Affairs unit — made the arrests early yesterday morning, officials said.

Another defendant, Joseph Fumando, is a self-employed funeral director who was know by his gambling ring assaociates as”The Undertaker.”

The 13 men and one woman were arraigned and released after posting $75,000 bonds.

In a move that seemed out of sync with the NYPD’s tough line against police corruption, Palase slipped away into a restricted floor in the courthouse and was spirited out the back way by NYPD detectives in order to avoid news cameras outside the building.

Additional reporting by Jamie Schram