Five Families of New York City

Updated news on the Gambino, Genovese, Bonanno, Lucchese and Colombo Organized Crime Families of New York City.

Showing posts with label Lucchese Crime Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lucchese Crime Family. Show all posts

Thursday, September 10, 2026

NJ Councilman linked to Lucchese family admits role in illegal gambling operation

  September 10, 2026    Dapper_Don


Attorney General Jennifer Davenport, the Division of Criminal Justice (DCJ), and the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) announced today that a Prospect Park, New Jersey, councilman admitted his role in an illegal gambling operation tied to the Lucchese crime family.

Anand U. Shah, 44, of Prospect Park, New Jersey, pleaded guilty today before Superior Court Judge Ralph E. Amirata in Morris County to first-degree racketeering, first-degree money laundering, and second-degree official misconduct. Under terms of the plea agreement, the state will recommend a sentence of 10 years in state prison, of which 85 percent must be served before parole eligibility. Shah must also forfeit his public office and is permanently barred from holding public office. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 4, 2026.

“Public officials have a special duty to ensure that they follow the law,” said Attorney General Davenport. “The defendant not only broke the law, but he then used criminal proceeds to fund his political campaign. Today’s guilty plea demonstrates that no one is above the law.”

“Traditional organized crime remains a real problem in New Jersey,” said DCJ Director Theresa L. Hilton. “Even with a variety of legal gambling options, illegal gambling rings run by organized crime continue to operate in backrooms and online. Law enforcement will continue to dismantle these criminal enterprises no matter where they operate.”

Shah functioned as a sportsbook agent/poker manager in the operation. At his plea hearing, Shad admitted that he conspired with other members of the enterprise and committed repeated acts of gambling and money laundering in Morris, Passaic, and Bergen counties. Shah admitted that he had subagents under him and managed and controlled financial transactions and caused others to direct portions of funds derived from criminal activity to his campaign for his position as Councilman.

Shah admitted that he acted as a poker manager and host in illegal poker clubs where a “rake” — a percentage of the monies bet by the players as a profit for the house for each hand played – was collected, and acted as agent with dozens of subagents under him on sportsbook. From January 2017 to August 2023, the criminal proceeds directly attributable to Shah totaled $900,084. Shah admitted that he had individuals who owed him gambling debts contribute to his campaign in lieu of paying the debt and would forgive their balance of debt if they donated to the campaign.

Shah is one of 42 people who have been indicted since the initial arrests in April 2025 following a two-year investigation into illegal gambling, loansharking, extortion, and money laundering tied to the Lucchese crime family. Earlier this year, eight people admitted their roles in operating illegal poker games and an online sportsbook in association with the Lucchese crime family. Between October 2025 and August 2026, 38 other people have previously pleaded guilty with respect to their conduct in the gambling enterprise.

The leadership of the New Jersey-based faction of the Lucchese family allegedly oversaw the gambling activities and received a portion of the criminal proceeds. The investigation resulted in the identification of $4.79 million in suspected criminal proceeds. Members of the criminal enterprise used multiple shell corporations and legitimate businesses to conceal their illegal gambling proceeds.

Charges are still pending against two remaining defendants, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Deputy Attorney General Heather Hausleben is prosecuting the case for DCJ. The case was investigated by Detective Sergeant Michael Gallant of the New Jersey State Police. Attorney General Davenport thanked the FBI New Jersey – Newark and Red Bank, FBI New York City, U.S. Marshals, Federal Probation, and the Department of Corrections Special Operations Group for their valuable contributions to the investigation.

https://www.njoag.gov/ag-davenport-announces-prospect-park-councilman-admits-role-in-illegal-gambling-operation/

  

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Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Eight Lucchese Crime Family Members and Associates Plead Guilty in Massive New Jersey Gambling and Racketeering Case

  June 24, 2026    Dapper_Don

A major organized crime investigation targeting the Lucchese crime family's New Jersey faction has resulted in another wave of guilty pleas, as eight alleged members and associates of the Mafia organization, along with three companies tied to the operation, admitted their roles in a sprawling racketeering, illegal gambling, and money laundering enterprise.

The latest guilty pleas represent a significant development in one of New Jersey's largest organized crime prosecutions in recent years. Authorities say the criminal enterprise generated millions of dollars through illegal sportsbooks, poker clubs, and money laundering schemes operating throughout northern New Jersey.

Prosecutors Target Lucchese Crime Family Leadership

According to state prosecutors, several high-ranking figures connected to the Lucchese crime family's New Jersey faction have now admitted responsibility for their roles in the criminal enterprise.

Among the most prominent defendants are:

  • George "Georgie Neck" Zappola, identified by authorities as a senior Lucchese crime family figure.
  • Joseph R. "Big Joe" Perna, an alleged Lucchese captain.
  • John G. Perna, identified as a Lucchese family soldier.
  • Wayne D. Cross, described as a Lucchese associate.

Prosecutors alleged that the operation utilized a structured hierarchy similar to traditional Mafia enterprises, with leadership overseeing gambling operations, collecting proceeds, and directing associates involved in various aspects of the enterprise.

Illegal Sportsbooks and Poker Clubs Generated Millions

Investigators say the criminal organization operated multiple illegal poker clubs and online sportsbooks throughout New Jersey.

Authorities previously described a sophisticated network in which managers supervised poker games, handled betting activity, collected proceeds, and coordinated operations across numerous locations. The organization allegedly used shell companies and other methods to conceal gambling revenue and move money through the financial system.

The broader investigation led to dozens of arrests and charges against alleged mob members, associates, gambling operators, and individuals accused of helping facilitate the operation. Prosecutors estimate that millions of dollars flowed through the enterprise during the investigation period.

Additional Defendants Enter Guilty Pleas

Among those pleading guilty in the latest round was Michael P. Frasso of Cedar Grove, who prosecutors identified as a sportsbook agent involved in the operation. Authorities said Frasso admitted guilt to racketeering and related offenses.

Frank Imparato of Saddle Brook, described as a poker club manager, also entered a guilty plea connected to his role in the gambling enterprise.

Joseph Gossweiler of Florham Park, identified as a sportsbook sub-agent and poker club manager, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to promoting gambling.

State officials said numerous other defendants have already pleaded guilty since the investigation became public, bringing the total number of admissions connected to the case into the dozens.

Three Companies Also Admit Criminal Conduct

In addition to the individual defendants, three businesses allegedly used to facilitate or conceal criminal activity also entered guilty pleas.

Prosecutors contend the companies played roles in supporting the racketeering and money laundering aspects of the operation. Authorities have not ruled out additional forfeitures or financial penalties as sentencing proceedings continue.

Organized Crime Remains Active in New Jersey

The investigation serves as a reminder that traditional organized crime families remain active despite decades of law enforcement pressure.

Authorities allege the Lucchese crime family's New Jersey faction maintained influence over illegal gambling operations while generating revenue through sports betting, poker games, and related criminal activities. Investigators say the structure closely resembled historic Mafia enterprises that have operated in the region for generations.

The Lucchese family is one of New York's historic Five Families of La Cosa Nostra and has long maintained a presence in New Jersey through members, associates, and affiliated gambling operations.

Sentencing Still Ahead for Many Defendants

While guilty pleas have now been entered by numerous defendants, sentencing hearings remain pending for several individuals.

State prosecutors have recommended prison terms for some of the higher-ranking defendants, while lower-level participants could receive probation or shorter custodial sentences depending on their involvement and cooperation.

The case represents one of the most significant organized crime prosecutions undertaken by New Jersey authorities in recent years and continues to expose the inner workings of an alleged Mafia-linked gambling network that operated across the state.

Key Figures Named in the Investigation

  • George "Georgie Neck" Zappola — Alleged Lucchese ruling panel member.
  • Joseph R. "Big Joe" Perna — Alleged Lucchese captain.
  • John G. Perna — Alleged Lucchese soldier.
  • Wayne D. Cross — Alleged Lucchese associate.
  • Michael P. Frasso — Sportsbook agent.
  • Frank Imparato — Poker club manager.
  • Joseph Gossweiler — Sportsbook sub-agent and poker club manager.

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Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Mafia Associate Allegedly Sent Victim His Own Mob Profile During Extortion Scheme, Prosecutors Say

  June 16, 2026    Dapper_Don

 

A New York organized crime associate accused of extorting local business owners allegedly used an unusual tactic to intimidate one of his targets: he sent the victim an online profile detailing his reputed Mafia connections and criminal background.

Federal prosecutors say the move was intended to reinforce threats and convince the victim that the demands were serious.

Authorities Describe Unusual Intimidation Tactic

According to court records, the defendant, identified as Joseph Cutaia, allegedly targeted multiple business owners in an extortion scheme that stretched over several years.

Investigators claim one victim received a link or profile describing Cutaia's alleged ties to New York organized crime figures, including references to family members connected to the Lucchese crime family. Prosecutors argue the message served as a warning designed to pressure the victim into making payments.

The alleged tactic stands out because traditional organized crime groups have historically relied on face-to-face intimidation, intermediaries, or coded messages. In this case, authorities say the suspect leveraged publicly available online information to establish credibility and instill fear.
How Social Media and Online Profiles Are Changing Criminal Investigations

Law enforcement experts note that the digital age has transformed how criminal organizations operate—and how investigators build cases.

In decades past, organized crime members often avoided publicity. Today, online profiles, social media posts, and digital communications can create a trail of evidence that prosecutors may later use in court.

Federal investigators increasingly examine:

Text messages
Social media accounts
Online biographies
Email communications
Financial transaction records

Digital evidence has become a major factor in organized crime prosecutions across the United States.
Organized Crime Still Faces Federal Scrutiny

Although the influence of traditional Mafia families has declined from its peak during the 20th century, federal authorities continue to pursue extortion, racketeering, gambling, and fraud cases involving alleged organized crime associates.

The FBI and federal prosecutors have repeatedly emphasized that racketeering investigations remain a priority, particularly when businesses are targeted through threats or coercion.

Extortion cases often involve demands for money, services, or other benefits under the threat of harm, economic retaliation, or intimidation.

Why This Case Is Drawing Attention

The allegation that a suspect sent his own organized crime profile to a victim has generated widespread attention because it highlights the intersection of old-school criminal intimidation and modern technology.

Rather than relying solely on reputation spread through word of mouth, prosecutors allege the suspect attempted to use the internet as proof of his criminal credentials.

Legal analysts say the incident demonstrates how digital footprints can sometimes become evidence against the very individuals trying to use them as tools of intimidation.
What Happens Next?

The case is moving through federal court, where prosecutors will seek to prove that the communications were part of a broader extortion scheme.

If convicted, the defendant could face significant penalties under federal racketeering and extortion statutes.

As the proceedings continue, the case serves as a reminder that even in the digital era, organized crime investigations remain active—and that online activity can play a central role in both alleged criminal conduct and federal prosecutions.

https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/06/15/mafia-thug-sent-extortion-victim-his-online-mob-profile-to-prove-he-meant-business-feds/

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Sunday, November 16, 2025

Lucchese family moms lived an extravagant lifestyle

  November 16, 2025    Dapper_Don


They were doting sports moms who appeared to be living the suburban dream in some of New Jersey’s richest counties — showing off lives of apparent luxury on social media.

But beneath the surface, prosecutors said the wife and ex-wife of purported Lucchese crime family soldier Joseph “Little Joe” Perna were taking cash from a $2 million Mafia-linked illegal online sports betting ring managed by their sons, authorities said.

Perna’s wife, Kim Zito, acted like an open book on Facebook and Instagram, showing off her two small dogs, the homes and apartments she flips, and her frequent nights out on the town with her glammed up, Gucci-bag wielding gal squad.

On X, the 53-year-old follows “Real Housewives of New Jersey” veteran Dina Manzo and President Trump, supports the Second Amendment, and shares both her love for Lifetime movies as well as motivational quotes from the likes of Joel Osteen.




Her socials are also replete with pictures of her now 23-year-old son, Frank, playing football and baseball, or the two hugging inside their granite-countertopped kitchen.

Frank Zito oversaw the sportsbook operation along with Joseph Magno, 25, a former Ramapo High School wrestling standout, and his brother, Anthony Magno, 23, who played football for Bergen Catholic High School, authorities said.

The two are the sons of Joseph Perna’s ex-wife, 52-year-old insurance agent Rosanna Magno.

Kim Zito and Rosanna Magno were both charged with racketeering by federal authorities who claim they played a role in an online sportsbook racket Perna, 55, allegedly financed, according to court papers.

Ex-Rutgers wrestler Michael Cetta, 23 — Rosanna Magno’s nephew — also participated in the operation, prosecutors alleged in court documents, as did cousin Dominic Perna, 23.

Kim Zito and Rosanna both live in large, two-story homes in Fairfield and Oakland, NJ, respectively. Zito’s home’s value is estimated to be approximately, $800,000 and Magno’s has a market value of $700,000.

Unlike Zito, Magno apparently kept a low profile online.

Her sole social media presence can be found on LinkedIn, which lists her as a client services manager at Essex Retirement Services with eight years experience.

“My expertise lies in designing tailored retirement solutions that meet client needs, enhance employee engagement, and ensure regulatory adherence,” her profile proclaims.

Kim Zito allegedly accepted an unspecified amount of illegal gambling cash in November and December of 2023, prosecutors said, while Magno allegedly tried to “conceal what were later determined to be gambling ledgers from police during an investigative stop” in April 2025.

All told, 14 people — including suspects in Florida and Rhode Island — face charges stemming from their involvement with the gambling ring, which operated between 2022 and 2024, authorities said.

The illegal enterprise allegedly included a national network of bookmakers, all operating under Little Joe’s orders, to lure bettors into making illegal bets, which were used to fund the scheme and enrich the defendants. according to court documents.

This isn’t the first time a Lucchese crime family ring was taken down in New Jersey this year. In April, 39 people, including members of the Lucchese crime family, were charged for their alleged roles in a large-scale illegal gambling operation. A sitting Prospect Park councilman was also among the 39.

The Luccheses were also accused of being part of the recent game-fixing and poker-rigging ring that allegedly involved NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat player Terry Rozier.

Zito and Magno could not be reached for comment, and their attorneys did not return calls from The Post.

https://nypost.com/2025/11/16/us-news/inside-the-extravagant-lives-of-the-nj-bookie-moms-caught-up-in-mafia-linked-betting-ring/

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Thursday, November 13, 2025

Lucchese Soldier recruited son and his friends for gambling ring in latest NJ bust

  November 13, 2025    Dapper_Don



A mafia member ran a multimillion sports betting ring by recruiting a network of Gen Z bookmakers through his son’s circle of friends, which included college athletes, New Jersey law enforcement officials said on Thursday.

Authorities said that Joseph M. "Little Joe" Perna of Fairfield, N.J., who they said was part of the Lucchese crime family, financed the operation with his son, Joseph R. Perna, 25, who handled day-to-day business.

In all, law enforcement authorities arrested and charged 14 people, including Mr. Perna’s wife, ex-wife, another son and a stepson. The names of two people charged match those of former Rutgers wrestlers.

The defendants are charged with racketeering, conspiracy, gambling offenses and money laundering.

It was unclear who was representing Joseph M. Perna, 55. Anthony Iacullo, a lawyer for the younger Mr. Perna, who pleaded not guilty in a virtual court appearance Thursday, said that his client would fight the charges.

“Joseph looks forward to confronting the false allegations against him in a court of law,” Mr. Iacullo said in an email.

The charges came after recent indictments by federal prosecutors in Brooklyn brought new scrutiny to the ways gambling has affected sports in the United States. Two of those cases involved insiders who placed bets using nonpublic information about N.B.A. and M.L.B. games, according to federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York.

It remains unclear to what degree, if any, college sports are involved in the charges announced on Thursday.

The New Jersey attorney general, Matthew J. Platkin, said the operation included a “number of” college athletes, without saying how many or which schools. Some of the defendants appeared to have loose connections to one another from high school, and were not college athletes.

Gambling is a chief concern of many involved in collegiate athletics, which in recent years has been supercharged by payments to players. Last week, the N.C.A.A. announced that six former men’s basketball players, at Mississippi Valley State, the University of New Orleans and Arizona State, had engaged in “betting-related game manipulation.”

The N.C.A.A. recently approved a rule that would allow student athletes to bet on professional sports, but has delayed its implementation in the face of criticism. Three members of Congress wrote a letter to the N.C.A.A. last month asking the body why it was permitting student athletes to gamble on sports. In their letter, the lawmakers cited the federal indictments in Brooklyn. The rule could now be rescinded.

On Thursday, Mr. Platkin said at a news conference that the betting operation had taken place even though sports gambling is legal in the state.

“Organized crime families seem to have a hard time breaking this old habit, so we’re going to break it for them,” he said.

He said that the operation used offshore websites, enticing people to place bets that represented about $2 million in illegal transactions over two years. It relied, he said, on younger gamblers recruited from among the junior Mr. Perna’s high school and college friends.

The biographies of two of those charged, Michael Cetta, who is a cousin of the younger Mr. Perna, and Nicholas Raimo, match those of former wrestlers for Rutgers University. Mr. Cetta, 23, and Mr. Raimo, 25, are accused of being “agents” of the enterprise.

A lawyer for Mr. Cetta declined to comment, and it was not clear who was representing Mr. Raimo. Kevin Lorincz, a spokesman for Rutgers, said the school “does not comment on law enforcement matters.”

In New Jersey, the charges are particularly resonant. A state law led to a landmark Supreme Court decision in 2018 that paved the way for the widespread legalization of sports betting across America.

Gambling companies have argued that legalization brought betting out of the underworld and allowed for its regulation. But critics have countered that legal wagers often lead to illegal ones, and that a surfeit of opportunities for betting has expanded the possibilities for corruption.

Younger men like those charged Thursday remain particularly at risk for becoming problem gamblers, experts say. Sports bettors tend to be men under 35, according to studies, and the risk of gambling addiction is disproportionately high for young adults.

Four years after the Supreme Court’s decision, the American Gambling Association wrote to the Justice Department saying that illegal gambling was still pervasive throughout America.

“A vast illegal sports betting market continues to exist through offshore websites, which have established well-known brands,” the letter said, adding that they “enjoy many competitive advantages that allow them to offer better odds and promotions and ignore any commitment to responsible gaming.”

Mr. Platkin asked that any college student listening take note of the fact that, while they could gamble on their phones if they were of age, “You should not be gambling in a mob-backed operation. That’s free parental advice.”

Brian J. Neary, a lawyer for Tyler Schnorrbusch, a recent college graduate charged in the scheme, described his client as a “promising young man.” Mr. Schnorrbusch, 23, has pleaded not guilty.

Mr. Neary said he was skeptical of the government’s claims. “College kids,” he said, “can’t compete with FanDuel.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/nyregion/new-jersey-sports-gambling-mob.html

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Thursday, October 23, 2025

Who were the NYC mobsters busted in NBA poker scheme?

  October 23, 2025    Dapper_Don



The son of a legendary mafia capo, a newbie made man and a mobster who did time for an infamous Queens racial attack were among the 13 reputed mobsters busted alongside NBA stars in a sweeping historic gambling bust, according to a new federal indictment.

Among the most prominent of the gangsters who were dealt into the high-stakes scams is Angelo Ruggiero Jr, the son of the late Gambino captain Angelo “Quack Quack” Ruggiero Sr.

Ruggiero Jr’s father was close friends with notorious Gambino boss John Gotti, who helped plan the murder of Gambino leader Paul Castellano in 1985.

When Gotti became head of the crime family, he promoted Ruggiero, who later acted as a liaison for the family while Gotti stood trial for murder in 1992.

The gangster — who earned his ducky nickname because of his penchant for talking a lot and who did things like threaten to feed people to sharks — became infamous because the feds picked him up on wiretaps complaining about his mob bosses and used his comments in case against Castellano.

The younger Ruggiero, who is also a made man, now stands accused of receiving “proceeds” of the rigged poker games “on behalf of the Gambino crime family.”

A second wiseguy arrested for his alleged role in the FBI’s gambling and poker probe is Ernest “Ernie” Aiello — who made headlines for inquiring in court about how he can avoid mob ties and still eat at his favorite Italian bakery back in 2018.

The 43-year-old Bonanno crime family mobster was busted for loansharking, gambling and drug dealing in July 2013, but ultimately walked free after a mistrial in May 2017.

During a court hearing the next year, a judge warned him not to commiserate with fellow mobsters —which Aiello said may spoil his breakfast, since he frequents a beloved Italian bakery in Brooklyn.

The judge, in turn, warned him to simply keep his visits to Fortunato Brothers Cafe in Williamsburg short and sweet, according to the Daily News.

He’s now accused of receiving a portion of the criminal proceeds from the rigged poker games on behalf of the Bonanno crime family.

Busted Gambino wiseguy Lee Fama, meanwhile, has a history of cleaning up at the poker table.

In 2012, as the Drug Enforcement Administration probed him for drug charges he won big playing poker at casinos in Vegas and Atlantic City, The Post reported at the time.

Fama raked in more than $22,000 at poker tournaments at the Borgata in Atlantic City and $666 at a Las Vegas’s Rio hotel as Drug Enforcement Administration officials probed him for conspiring to distribute marijuana in 2012.

He was later arrested for allegedly buying and selling several pounds of marijuana.

He’s now accused of getting proceeds from the rigged card games on behalf of the Gambino crime family.

Nicholas “Fat Nick” Minucci — a Gambino associate who was convicted of beating a black kid with a baseball bat while shouting the N-word in 2005 — was also busted in the NBA gambling case.

Minucci, 39, of East Northport, was convicted of the hate crime after chasing down battery victim Glenn Moore.

At the time, Fat Nick claimed he was not a bigot and said he only chased down Moore because he thought he’d come to Howard Beach to steal cars. He was ultimately sentenced to 15 years in prison.

He’s now accused of participating on “cheating teams” during the rigged card games.

Matthew “The Wrestler” Daddino — a hulking newbie Genovese made man and former star high school wrestler from Long Island— was also indicted during the historic gambling bust.

Daddino is “a recently inducted member” and “rising star” of the crime family.

He’s accused of receiving cash from the rigged card games on behalf of the Genovese family.

In total, 13 alleged members and associates of the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese crime families were arrested in the gambling and sports betting bust. Among other reputed gangsters charged was Thomas “Tommy Juice” Gelardo, who received proceeds on behalf of the Bonanno family.

Other suspects with suspicious names were also busted, including Ammar “Flapper Poker” Awawdeh, Zhen “Scruli” Hu and Robert “Black Rob” Stroud who helped organize the games and Tony “Black Tony” Goodson and Shane “Sugar” Hennen who helped supply the marks.

https://nypost.com/2025/10/23/us-news/from-the-son-of-a-legendary-mafia-capo-to-a-wiseguy-poker-pro-these-are-the-mobsters-charged-in-the-nba-gambling-scandal/

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Latest indictment shows NYC mafia families are still in business

  October 23, 2025    Dapper_Don



In New York City, it seems, the mob’s five families still have a few cards to play.

That was on full display Thursday when federal and local officials announced charges against a grab bag of gangsters from four of the families, including leaders, made men and associates, saying they oversaw a complex scheme to rig illegal poker games that raked in millions of dollars. The victims were lured to the high-stakes tables by the presence of current and former N.B.A. luminaries, officials said.

While the mob’s outright stranglehold on a host of industries, from construction and trucking to control of the waterfront and garment center, is a thing of the past, organized crime remains alive and well, if less visible, according to current and former investigators. Its presence is perhaps most vibrant in the New York City metropolitan area.

This stubborn resilience continues, they said, despite more than four decades of aggressive investigations and prosecutions that have decimated the leadership of the five families and secured thousands of convictions — and the recruitment of an army of chatty informants.

Over the years, the mob’s savvier operators have learned that violence — not to mention the antics of strutting crime family peacocks like the Gambino boss John Gotti — attracts law enforcement attention, which can land them in prison, where moneymaking opportunities are decidedly fewer and farther between.

The Italian Mafia, known as La Cosa Nostra, “is still alive and well in the New York City area, they just changed some of their methods in the way they operate,” said F.B.I. supervisor Mike Mullahy, a veteran mob investigator who oversaw the agents who made the poker case.

“Being brazen and up front in how they operate has not always worked out well for them,” he added, “so they have changed their methods and modes of operation, and we have changed our method of investigating them.”

The poker indictment was unsealed on Thursday along with an unrelated case with no mob involvement that accused three current and former N.B.A. players and coaches and three other men of defrauding gamblers and online betting firms out of millions of dollars.

In the poker case, prosecutors charged 32 men, accusing 11 of them of being leaders, members or associates of the Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno and Lucchese families, including one Bonanno figure, Ernest Aiello, who was reputed to be the family’s acting street boss. The charges include wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling enterprise and conspiracies to commit extortion and robbery.

Both indictments were brought by prosecutors from the office of the Brooklyn U.S. attorney, Joseph Nocella Jr., after separate investigations by his office and several other agencies. In the poker inquiry, they included the F.B.I., the Police Department and the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, which, like the U.S. attorney’s office, has long been among the agencies at the forefront of investigating the mob.

The two cases were not directly related. But three men — none of them accused mob figures — were charged in both indictments, so the inquiries were coordinated and conducted in parallel and the cases were announced together.

Illegal gambling has long been a lucrative mob staple, with its attendant crimes of loan-sharking and extortion, and it continues to be a big moneymaker for all five families, investigators said. But the scheme outlined in the poker indictment took it to another level, leaving nothing to chance.

High rollers were lured to the tables at the mob-sanctioned games in Manhattan, the Hamptons and elsewhere, where, unbeknown to them, the players were interspersed with members of what the indictment said defendants referred to as “cheating teams.” Shuffling machines were altered with chips that could read all the cards in the deck so each player’s hand could be determined in real time and communicated to one of the scheme’s participants at the table, referred to as the “quarterback” or “driver.”

While the indictment said the victims thought they were playing in a “straight” illegal card game “gambling against other participants on equal footing,” in reality, they were facing the cheating team, a lineup of the defendants and their co-conspirators.

At the end of the day, the sophistication of the scheme, and the involvement of four of New York’s five families, strongly indicate that the mob is still thriving. It has hummed along in the background as law enforcement’s priorities have shifted elsewhere — to terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks and, more recently, immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

“Having worked these families firsthand for 15 years, I can tell you they never really disappear,” said Seamus McElearney, a retired F.B.I. agent who supervised cases against three crime families and has written a book about his time investigating the mob. “They adjust and find ways to cash in.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/23/nyregion/nba-gambling-mafia-gambino-genovese-bonanno-luchese.html

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NBA stars and NYC crime families indicted in poker scheme

  October 23, 2025    Dapper_Don

Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups has been charged in a sweeping federal probe into an alleged illegal poker scheme tied to organized crime, sources told The Post.

The 49-year-old former NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons was arrested in Oregon Thursday morning, the night after coaching his team in their season opener.

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier aka “Scary Terry” was charged as well, in a separate but related illegal gambling case, ABC reported.

Billups, an NBA Hall of Famer, has been charged with partaking in an alleged illegal poker ring tied to the Gambino, Bonanno and Genovese crime families, sources told the Post.

A total of 31 people across the country are charged with running rigged games, which took place in Manhattan, the Hamptons and Las Vegas, sources said.

The players involved were being paid by mobsters to play in card games fixed with technology and card shuffling machines to give the house the advantage, sources familiar with the case said.

The athletes were told to take a dive when they had to and win when they were told. It didn’t appear as if they were attempting to pay off any debts, sources said.

Former NBA player Damon Jones, 49, who spent 11 years in the league with multiple teams, is also charged in the FBI’s investigation, according to sources.

Rozier previously had been under investigation for unusual betting activity during his time with the Hornets, specifically a March 2023 contest. However, the NBA did not find any violation.

Rozier’s attorney Jim Trusty, said that his client met with NBA and FBI officials during 2023 regarding the case and slammed the manner in which he was taken into custody Thursday morning.

“A long time ago we reached out to these prosecutors to tell them we should have an open line of communication. They characterized Terry as a subject, not a target, but at 6 a.m. this morning they called to tell me FBI agents were trying to arrest him in a hotel,” Trusty told the Post.

“It is unfortunate that instead of allowing him to self surrender they opted for a photo op. They wanted the misplaced glory of embarrassing a professional athlete with a perp walk. That tells you a lot about the motivations in this case,” he continued.

“Terry was cleared by the NBA and these prosecutors revived that non-case. Terry is not a gambler, but he is not afraid of a fight, and he looks forward to winning this fight,” the attorney said.

Former NBA player Damon Jones, 49, who spent 11 years in the league with multiple teams, is also charged in the FBI’s investigation, according to sources.

The charges come less than a year after former Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter pleaded guilty to tipping off gamblers to games he purposely was going to rig — and earning them $1 million — in an effort to clear his own gambling debt.

Billups is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Oregon federal court on Thursday, but will eventually appear in Brooklyn federal court in the Eastern District of New York, which handled the case against Porter.

Billups, a five-time All-Star, was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame last year.

Prosecutors and FBI Director Kash Patel are expected to announce further details about the alleged schemes at a press conference in Brooklyn on Thursday morning. Also named in the sweeping case is reputed gangster Tommy Gelardo.

https://nypost.com/2025/10/23/sports/portland-trail-blazers-coach-chauncey-billups-arrested-in-alleged-poker-scheme/

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Friday, July 11, 2025

Lucchese mobster sentenced to 21 months for $25 million illegal gambling racket

  July 11, 2025    Dapper_Don


That’s a La Cosa No-No-stra.

A mobster was sentenced Wednesday for running an illegal online betting operation that netted nearly $25 million over the past 25 years, according to federal prosecutors.

US District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto gave Anthony Villani, a reputed Lucchese crime family soldier, 21 months in the slammer for his involvement in the racket, officials said.

Villani, a 60-year-old resident of Elmsford, pleaded guilty earlier in the year to racketeering, money laundering and illegal gambling.

The captain owned Rhino Sports, an online business employing Mafia figures as local bookmakers.

The operation, which was based in the Bronx and Westchester county, took in at least $1 million annually from thousands of gamblers, federal prosecutors said.

Villani recruited and employed “trusted associates” to help him manage the illegal gambling outfit, officials said.

He also extorted someone between October 2019 and October 2020, threatening them over $300,000 they stole from Rhino Sports, according to prosecutors.

“I’m not going to repeat myself. I’m not going to ever say this again. We’re just going to have a problem if I find out. Alright? And I don’t want to threaten you with my friends or anything, I’m not gonna, you put me in a f—–g hole with this guy,” Villani reportedly warned on April 27, 2020.

“Listen, get the f—–g money. I’m telling you right now, you don’t get this money – f—–g run away,” he said, according to prosecutors. “Go get this f—–g money,” Villani demanded months later, prosecutors said.

The man on the receiving end of the threats believed Villani or other members of the Lucchese crime family would physically hurt or kill him if he did not repay the debt.

The case was investigated by the Eastern District of New York’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.

https://nypost.com/2025/07/09/us-news/lucchese-captain-anthony-villani-sentenced-for-illegal-gambling-racket/

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Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Monday, April 14, 2025

Feds round up Lucchese family's New Jersey crew

  April 14, 2025    Dapper_Don



Buncha wiseguys.

A New Jersey councilman and high-ranking Lucchese crime family members are among dozens nabbed in a massive mobbed-up gambling ring allegedly run out of restaurants across the Garden State, officials announced Friday.

Prospect Park Councilman Anand Shah, 42, allegedly managed illegal poker games and ran an online sportsbook tied to four members of the mob family, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin alleged at a press conference in Newark on Friday morning.

“I’m keenly aware of the public’s perception of elected officials in New Jersey and the lack of trust that so many have in their public officials and governmental institutions,” Platkin said. “The arrest of a city council member only adds fuel to that fire.”

Shah was one of 37 people arrested and 39 people charged in the sweeping gambling case that was part of a two-year investigation that uncovered illegal operations in Woodland Park, Garfield, and Totowa that netted $3 million in illegal profits, the AG alleged.

At the top of the racket was George Zappola, 65, of Red Bank, who is part of the Lucchese ruling panel, officials claimed.

Below him was Lucchese captain Joseph “Big Joe” Perna, 56, of Belleville, and below him Lucchese soldiers John Perna, 47, of Little Falls, and Wayne Cross, 75, of Spring Lake, authorities alleged.

On Wednesday, cops raided four illegal poker clubs connected to the Lucchese family, two of which were run out of the backrooms of restaurants. They also searched a business in Paterson that was storing gambling machines and the homes of seven people who were allegedly managing the gambling operation.

The raid led officials to discover more poker clubs and dozens of people who hosted poker games, worked at the clubs, or managed bettors on an illegal online sportsbook on sites outside the US, Platkin said.

“This was a highly structured, highly profitable criminal enterprise run by people who thought they were above the law,” said Theresa Hilton, the director of the Division of Criminal Justice.

There were high-level managers who delegated daily operations to managers, decided how the clubs were run, settled disputes, and used threats to collect debts, the AG said.

The lower-level managers collected dues — called “rents” — from the hosts of the poker games, Platkin said.

Hosts — or the “house” — had to recruit their own players, provide food and beverages for the games, and financially stake them. For this, the hosts collected a percentage of the bets for themselves, called a “rake,” the AG claimed.

The hosts either paid the dealers or gamblers were allowed to work off unpaid debts by acting as a dealers, the AG said.

Attendees could bet on gambling machines inside the clubs if they were waiting to get into a poker game, Platkin said.

As for online gambling, “agents” ran the sportsbooks for gambling sites abroad and would manage a group of bettors — or “packages,” the AG said.

And the agents and sub-agents had to send up a portion of their profits to the high-level management, Platkin alleged.

The websites allowed the mobsters to use the internet and technology to carry out the same criminal activities La Cosa Nostra had been doing the old-fashioned way since the 19th century, Platkin said.

Shah is charged with racketeering, conspiracy to promote gambling and money laundering and other charges for which he could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the top charge.

He is not accused of using his office to carry out the alleged crimes and is not accused of being a made member of the Mafia — but rather an associate of it, officials alleged.

He’s due on Tuesday in Morris County court, where prosecutors will be arguing for him to be kept in jail while his case plays out.

Shah didn’t immediately return an email request for comment. Lawyers for Zappola, Cross, and John Perna didn’t immediately return requests for comment. It was not immediately known who was representing Joe Perna.

https://nypost.com/2025/04/11/us-news/nj-politician-lucchese-mobsters-arrested-in-gambling-ring/

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Sunday, March 30, 2025

Sunday, March 23, 2025

Monday, February 10, 2025

Saturday, February 8, 2025

Friday, January 31, 2025

Lucchese soldier facing 20 years in prison as he agrees to $4M forfeiture in plea deal

  January 31, 2025    Dapper_Don


Five Mafia members and associates have pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering and gambling charges for running an illegal betting operation in New York City, according to prosecutors.

The Lucchese organized crime family figures admitted to running a large-scale gambling enterprise that prosecutors say brought millions in illicit profits annually.

Among them was Anthony Villani, a Lucchese soldier who agreed to a plea deal Thursday in which he’ll pay $4 million in forfeiture, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York.

Prosecutors said that since the early 2000s, the 60-year-old Elmsford resident owned and operated Rhino Sports, an online business that also employed Mafia figures as local bookmakers to pay and collect winnings.

They said the operation was concentrated in the Bronx and nearby Westchester County, took bets from roughly 400 to 1,300 individuals each week and collected at least $1 million annually.

“Illegal gambling businesses require enforcement and protection from mob rivals that carry the persistent threat of violence,” John Durham, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, said in a statement. “However, the defendants’ luck ran out and, thanks to the hard work of the team of prosecutors and investigators, they will be held accountable for their crimes and pay their debt to society.”

Prosecutors say Villani faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. His lawyer didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment Friday.

Four others pleaded guilty in recent days to federal charges related to the scheme, according to prosecutors. A sixth defendant remains at large. 

https://apnews.com/article/mafia-bronx-lucchese-gambling-racketeering-f7facab0c427cc28b4eaa1a62d302744

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Monday, December 2, 2024

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Ex-husband of Real Housewives of New Jersey star gets 7 years for hiring Lucchese Soldier to beat up new husband

  October 17, 2024    Dapper_Don


Dina Manzo’s ex-husband was sentenced Tuesday to seven years in prison after being convicted of hiring a mobster to attack the “Real Housewives of New Jersey” alum’s new spouse.

The US Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced in a press release that Thomas “Tommy” Manzo was ordered to serve “84 months in prison for hiring, then assisting, a soldier in the Lucchese Crime Family to assault his ex-wife’s current husband.”

A jury convicted Tommy, 59, on June 4 of one count of committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering, one count of conspiracy to commit a violent crime in aid of racketeering and one count of falsifying and concealing documents related to a federal investigation.

In addition to prison time, Judge Susan D. Wigenton sentenced Tommy to three years of supervised release.

“Whether you’re actually in the Mafia or not, hiring the mob to assault someone because of your marital problems is abhorrent,” US Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said in a statement Tuesday. “Covering up the role you played only makes it worse. The jury’s verdict, and today’s sentence, make clear that this office will spare no resources to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes.”

Dina, 52, has not publicly commented on her ex’s sentencing, but she did post a cryptic quote to her Instagram Story on Tuesday.

“Because at the end of the day, the right people fight for you. The right people show up. The right people care, not only when life is convenient, but when it is difficult and messy and it aches all over,” the quote read.

Tommy was accused of hiring Lucchese crime family member John Perna to physically assault Cantin, who Dina’s boyfriend at the time, at a strip mall parking lot in New Jersey in 2015.

Prosecutors claimed Tommy had hired Perna because he was “outraged that his former wife became romantically involved with another man.”

Perna was also convicted after pleading guilty in 2020 to committing a violent crime in aid of racketeering activity. He was released from prison in 2023.

“The facts and circumstances in this case read like something from a bad TV crime drama, but the evidence and testimony presented in court prove it was reality,” James E. Dennehy, the head of FBI’s Newark field office, said in a statement in June after Tommy’s guilty verdict.

Dina, who has not starred on “RHONJ” since 2014, married Cantin in 2017. They recently moved to Montecito, Calif.

https://pagesix.com/2024/10/16/celebrity-news/rhonj-dina-manzos-ex-tommy-sentenced-to-7-years-in-prison/

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Friday, July 12, 2024

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

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