Five mobsters and their associates have pleaded guilty to gambling, money laundering, and racketeering charges related to a highly profitable illegal bookmaking business in New York City.
Among the defendants is Anthony Villani, a Lucchese organized crime figure who agreed to forfeit $4m in ill-gotten gains and is facing two decades in prison. The 60-year-old was allegedly the kingpin of an online betting platform, named Rhino Sports, that had been in business since the early 2000s.
made at least $1m each year and accepted bets from up to 1,300 people weekly
Organized crime members acted as local bookies to collect bets and pay out winnings, mainly catering to people in Westchester and the Bronx. Villani’s co-defendants will forfeit about $1m between them. The operation made at least $1m each year and accepted bets from up to 1,300 people weekly.
US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, John Durham, spoke about how these guilty pleas are a big win “for the rule of law over the pernicious activities of organized crime that undermine the safety of our communities.”
Illegal sports betting has long been a key revenue driver for the five Mafia families in New York, with the introduction of illegal online sports betting in the Empire State in January 2022 impacting these operations.