By Terry Ahner

Several charges against a Tamaqua businessman accused of fleecing an elderly couple out of nearly $320,000 have been bound over to Schuylkill County Court.However, three other charges leveled against Alfonso Picone, 45, of 181 Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua, who is part owner of La Dolce Casa/DiMaggio’s Restaurant in Tamaqua, were dismissed by Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer of Tamaqua following a preliminary hearing Thursday.Picone faced charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities with intent to promote, knowledge that property is proceeds of an illegal act, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, theft by deception/false impression, theft by deception/prevention of acquisition of information, and theft by deception.Of those, the charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities with intent to promote, knowledge that property is proceeds of an illegal act, theft by unlawful taking, and receiving stolen property were bound over to county court by Bayer.The charges of theft by deception/false impression, theft by deception/prevention of acquisition of information, and theft by deception, were dismissed by Bayer.Picone remains free in lieu of $100,000 bail, 10 percent.