Feds In New York Bust Alleged Illegal Online Sports Betting OperationOperation Called 'Rhino Sports' Allegedly Handled Millions In Bets |
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Federal authorities in Brooklyn on Wednesday unsealed an indictment charging six defendants for their alleged roles overseeing and operating a large-scale illegal, online gambling business.
The alleged gambling business was under the protection of the Luchese organized crime family, the government said.
“In operation for more than 15 years,” the feds said, “the gambling business known as ‘Rhino Sports,’ utilized an offshore website and dozens of bookmakers in the New York area to take millions in illegal sports bets.”
Four of the defendants, alleged Luchese crime family solider Anthony Villani and alleged associates Louis Tucci, Jr., Dennis Filizzola and James Coumoutsos, were arrested at their residences in the New York area, and were scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday by United States Magistrate Judge Roanne Mann.
A fifth defendant, bookmaker Michael Praino, was arrested in West Palm Beach, Florida and will make his initial appearance Thursday morning in federal court in Florida.
“As alleged, this conduct demonstrates how members of La Cosa Nostra continue to engage in illegal gambling operations and money laundering money-marking schemes that lead to threats of violence against anyone who stands in their way and has resulted in millions of dollars in profits to the Luchese crime family,” stated United States Attorney Breon Peace. “These charges illustrate this Office’s continued commitment to rooting La Cosa Nostra out of New York.”
“Members of the mafia are not giving up the tried and true methods of criminal behavior, even in the face of the burgeoning world of legal gambling. As we allege, a Luchese soldier and other family members ran an illegal gambling operation and offered their clientele the same twisted customer service: do what they say or face terrifying consequences. One thing these criminals can bet on – the FBI will continue our pursuit,” added federal prosectutor Michael Driscoll.
As alleged in the indictment and court filings, Villani oversaw Rhino Sports. The gambling business was allegedly in operation from at least 2004 through December 2020.
During that period, the Rhino Sports was hosted online using offshore servers in Costa Rica and employed local bookmakers to pay and collect winnings in cash. Records obtained from the website indicated that Villani’s illegal gambling operation regularly took bets from between 400 and 1,300 bettors each week, most of whom were based in the New York City area.
Villani’s bookmakers allegedly included members and associates of the Luchese crime family and other La Cosa Nostra families. As part of the scheme, Villani employed co-conspirators as runners to assist in operating the business.
Villani is alleged to have received more than $1 million annually from the business. During law enforcement searches in December 2020, agents recovered over $407,000 in cash from one of Villani’s residences, as well as brass knuckles and gambling ledgers.
The unsealed indictment charges Villani with racketeering in connection with participation in various criminal schemes, including illegal gambling, money laundering and attempted extortion.
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