New Rochelle Mob Suspect Louis Apicella Released on $100K Bond Despite Federal Prosecutors’ Objections

BROOKLYN, NY (October 24, 2025) — Louis Apicella was released on a $100,000 unsecured personal recognizance bond Thursday after pleading not guilty to federal charges in a case unsealed the same day, despite opposition from prosecutors who sought his detention.

Apicella, one of seven defendants named in the superseding indictment in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, appeared before Magistrate Judge James R. Cho for his arraignment and detention hearing.

The indictment, filed October 9, 2025, in the Eastern District of New York, accuses Apicella and co-defendants of participating in the “Rigged Poker Scheme” starting in at least 2019. Apicella is alleged to have been a key member of the “Cheating Teams” that manipulated games, including weekly illegal poker sessions at locations on Washington Place and Lexington Avenue in Manhattan.

Apicella faces charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, operation of an illegal gambling business and related counts under federal statutes such as 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349, 1955(a) and others, carrying potential penalties of up to 20 years in prison.

Apicella, present in person and not in custody, was advised of the bond conditions set by the court and signed the bond. The court set the bond at $100,000 and released him, held pending additional surety to co-sign by Oct. 27, 2025. Court notes indicate the government opposed bail, but the court granted defense counsel’s request for bail.

Sabrina P. Shroff of the Law Office of Sabrina P. Shroff, 80 Broad St., 19th Floor, New York, NY 10004, was appointed as counsel for Apicella under the Criminal Justice Act after he satisfied the court of his financial inability to retain counsel and declined to waive representation. The appointment was ordered on Oct. 23, 2025.

At the hearing, defense counsel stated on the record that Apicella does not have a bail application or package. The court granted leave to reopen the detention hearing or apply to the District Court judge to whom the case will be assigned, with an order of detention entered with that leave to reapply to a magistrate or the District Court judge.

The release comes with extensive conditions deemed the least restrictive necessary to assure Apicella’s appearance and the safety of the community and other persons. They include:

• Refraining from federal, state or local criminal activity while on release.
• Cooperating with pretrial supervision and verification and reporting to Pretrial Services as directed.
• Refraining from possessing or using controlled substances as defined in 21 U.S.C. § 802, including marijuana, which is prohibited under federal law.
• Notifying Pretrial Services of any contact with law enforcement.
• Continuing or seeking full-time employment or education and advising Pretrial Services of changes.
• Surrendering any passport to Pretrial Services and not obtaining a new one; no international travel without court permission.
• Travel limited to New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, unless approved by Pretrial Services.
• No contact with co-defendants, victims or witnesses, directly or indirectly, or with certain individuals, locations or entry into certain locations.
• Undergoing testing, evaluation and treatment for substance abuse or mental health issues as directed by Pretrial Services.
• Submitting to location monitoring, including GPS technology, as directed by Pretrial Services; daily reporting if a curfew is imposed.
• Cooperating with home detention, mental health treatment allowing 24-hour off-site activities for medical necessities, and court appearances.
• One surety required to co-sign the bond.
  

Violation of these conditions may result in bond forfeiture, issuance of an arrest warrant, up to 10 years imprisonment for certain federal misdemeanors, enhanced sentences including life imprisonment for certain felonies, fines up to $250,000, or other sanctions.

The court also entered an order of excludable delay under the Speedy Trial Act, excluding the period from Oct. 23, 2025, to Nov. 24, 2025 — 30 days — to allow for effective plea negotiations without risk of trial prejudice. The parties jointly applied for the exclusion under 18 U.S.C. § 3161(h)(7)(A), citing Sixth Amendment and Speedy Trial Act considerations. The court found the delay reasonable for case preparation and in the public interest in disposition without trial.

A status conference was set for Nov. 14, 2025, at 10 a.m. before Judge Reyes. A medical memo was issued.

The case was unsealed on Oct. 23, 2025, upon motion by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, led by Joseph Nocella Jr. and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael W. Gibaldi, Sean M. Sherman and Irisa Chen. Sherman represented the government at the hearing.

Magistrate Judge Cho also issued a protective order pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 5(f) and the Due Process Protections Act, confirming the government’s disclosure obligations under Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), and its progeny, and Giglio v. United States, 405 U.S. 150 (1972). The order requires prompt disclosure of all material favorable information known to the government, including impeachment material, and applies continuing obligations to future materials. Non-compliance may result in sanctions including continuances, evidentiary exclusions, contempt, dismissal of charges or other just orders.

The obligations extend to information from all current or former federal, state and local prosecutors, law enforcement officers and others involved in the investigation or prosecution. If disclosure would compromise witness safety, victim rights, national security or other substantial interests, the government may seek modification, including in camera review or protective orders.

Apicella’s alleged role in the scheme comes amid a history of legal troubles dating back more than a decade, including drug possession, theft, time theft from his former employer, the New Rochelle Board of Education, and a 2023 guilty plea for disorderly conduct after attempting to run over journalist Robert Cox with his vehicle.

Apicella was arrested on Aug. 12, 2025 in Nassau County and arraigned on charges including attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree involving a blunt object, a Class A misdemeanor. A second count under the same statute involves a knife or cutting instrument. Prosecutors also charged Apicella with aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle in the third degree and moving from a lane unsafely. He pled not guilty, and was released on his own recognizance. The most recent scheduled appearance is set for November 24, 2025.

RELATED

• Gambino Mob Associate & Former New Rochelle Schools Employee Louis “Sloppy Louie” Apicella, Facing Multiple Federal Charges in Rigged Poker Scheme (10/23/2025)
• Former New Rochelle School Foreman Louis Apicella Pleads Guilty for Targeting Journalist (5/18/2025)
• Following Arraignment in New Rochelle, Louis Apicella, a Former BOE Employee, Attempts to Run Over Journalist with Car(1/29/2022)
• Former New Rochelle Schools Employee, Louis “Sloppy” Apicella, Arrested for Stealing from Costco (12/26/2021)
• Former New Rochelle Board of Education Employee Arrested for Attempting to Run Over Local Journalist (2/9/2022)
• New Rochelle Schools Moves to Terminate Employee for Time Theft (6/18/2018)
• New Rochelle School Foreman Arrested by New York State Police for Drug Possession (6/1/2018)
• New Rochelle Board of Education: Criminal Enterprise Masquerading as an Educational Institution – Part XVIII (3/16/2015)
• New Rochelle Board of Education: Criminal Enterprise Masquerading as an Educational Institution – Part XV (3/3/2015)
• New Rochelle Board of Education: Criminal Enterprise Masquerading as an Educational Institution – Part XIV (2/28/2015)
• New Rochelle Board of Education: Criminal Enterprise Masquerading as an Educational Institution – Part XII (2/26/2015)
• TOTS Report’s Notebook: January 30, 2015 (1/30/2015)
  

This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.