Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Office of Public Integrity and Accountability (OPIA) announced that several defendants, including the owner of a Sayreville strip club, have pleaded guilty in connection with misconduct at the establishment. The pleas were entered on June 3, 2025, before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Joseph Paone at the Middlesex County Courthouse in New Brunswick.
Doreen Acciardi, owner of XXXV Club on Route 35, and her husband Anthony Acciardi Sr., from Freehold Township, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to maintaining a nuisance through operating a house of prostitution and failing to pay income tax. They agreed to jointly settle their tax liabilities with the New Jersey Treasury Department’s Division of Taxation for approximately $705,000. Additionally, about $420,000 seized during the investigation will be forfeited by the defendants to cover part of this settlement.
The business entity 35 Club, LLC also pleaded guilty to operating a sexually oriented business. As part of an agreement, XXXV Club will undergo independent monitoring for five years starting January 1, 2025. This includes accessibility for monitors via closed-circuit television and in-person inspections.
Acciboys, LLC—an entity owning ATMs within the club belonging to Anthony Acciardi Jr., from Old Bridge, and Stephen Acciardi from Freehold Township—also admitted guilt in maintaining a nuisance through running a house of prostitution.
Anthony Acciardi Jr., Stephen Acciardi along with employees Jeanine Nichols and Jason Portes have been admitted into a pretrial intervention program for three years with mandatory fines imposed. Stephen Acciardi has additionally agreed to settle taxes owed.
Charges against Alana Inc., which owns the property housing XXXV Club, will be dismissed as part of this resolution.
“The guilty pleas in this case underscore that illegal business dealings and tax cheating are not worth it,” said Attorney General Platkin. “Those crimes will not go undetected and once they’re uncovered they will be prosecuted.”
“My office will pursue and prosecute those who use lawful businesses as fronts for illegal activity,” stated Drew Skinner from OPIA. “The monitoring put in place as a result of this case is intended to ensure 35 Club cleans up its act.”
The State recommends probation supervision sentences: three years for Anthony Acciardi Sr. and two years for Doreen Acciardi while complying with conditions on their businesses.
Investigations revealed that dancers performed sexual acts on patrons in VIP rooms at the club doubling as a house of prostitution without reporting proceeds as taxable income.
The case was managed by OPIA Corruption Bureau Deputy Attorney General Amanda Nini alongside other officials under Executive Director Skinner's supervision.
Defense counsel:
- For Anthony Acciardi Sr.: Louis M. Barbone
- For Doreen Acciardi: Jeffrey A. Bronster
- For Anthony Acciardi Jr.: Jonathan M. Petty
- For Stephen Acciardi: Michael A. Policastro
- For Jeanine Nichols & Jason Portes: Emery Z. Toth
