Cops break up Bonanno linked Queens gambling ring
Authorities busted up a Mafia-linked Queens sports gambling ring that used a website and offshore accounts to rack up more than $8 million over the past two-and-a-half years.
The Queens district attorney’s organized crime and rackets bureau busted Michael Palmaccio, 39, charged with being the bookmaker; Gerry Gullotti, 45, charged with being the loanshark; Ronald Salerno, 33, charged with collectuing the debts; and Cono Natale, 46, charged with being a runner for the operation.
The four were arraigned today on 64-counts of promoting gambling and conspiracy. The operation began in October 2008 when investigators received a tip about the betting ring.
Natale, of Maspeth, and Salerno, of Howard Beach, were held on $2,500 bail.
Palmaccio allegedly oversaw the gambling ring’s loan sharking operations and recruited Gullotti to manage the loans as well as the offshore accounts on the Web site arrowaction.net.
Palmaccio and Gullotti also allegedly handed out loans, charged usurious interest rates and Gullotti used threats of physical harm to get their clients to pay the monies they owed back.
Natale, who owns Cono & Sons O’Pescatore Restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, allegedly recruited bettors and managed their accounts while Salerno, a Fedex worker, allegedly collected and distributed the money from borrowers and bettors.
Palmaccio and Gullotti face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Natale and Salerno face up to four years in prison if convicted.
The Queens district attorney’s organized crime and rackets bureau busted Michael Palmaccio, 39, charged with being the bookmaker; Gerry Gullotti, 45, charged with being the loanshark; Ronald Salerno, 33, charged with collectuing the debts; and Cono Natale, 46, charged with being a runner for the operation.
The four were arraigned today on 64-counts of promoting gambling and conspiracy. The operation began in October 2008 when investigators received a tip about the betting ring.
Palmaccio, of Howard Beach and Gullotti, of Oceanside, L.I., were released on $35,000 bail. Federal law enforcement sources said Palmaccio is an associate of the Bonnano organized crime family.
Natale, of Maspeth, and Salerno, of Howard Beach, were held on $2,500 bail.
Palmaccio allegedly oversaw the gambling ring’s loan sharking operations and recruited Gullotti to manage the loans as well as the offshore accounts on the Web site arrowaction.net.
Palmaccio and Gullotti also allegedly handed out loans, charged usurious interest rates and Gullotti used threats of physical harm to get their clients to pay the monies they owed back.
Natale, who owns Cono & Sons O’Pescatore Restaurant in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, allegedly recruited bettors and managed their accounts while Salerno, a Fedex worker, allegedly collected and distributed the money from borrowers and bettors.
Palmaccio and Gullotti face up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Natale and Salerno face up to four years in prison if convicted.
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