Jersey and Staten Island Sports Betting Busts

[NJShore4Life]

Can’t believe they’re still jamming people up for this now when it’s 100% legal:

https://nypost.com/2019/12/18/6-men-fro ... ing-sites/

[NJShore4Life]

More in depth article:

https://www.silive.com/news/2019/12/4-s ... ation.html

[TommyGambino]

Can’t believe they’re still jamming people up for this now when it’s 100% legal:

https://nypost.com/2019/12/18/6-men-fro ... ing-sites/

What family are they with

[rolotomasi]

Bonanno

[TommyNoto]

Can’t believe they’re still jamming people up for this now when it’s 100% legal:

https://nypost.com/2019/12/18/6-men-fro ... ing-sites/

The Never ending battle between Govt and wise guys over who gets to tax

Govt constant need to increase revenue has been / is the mobs biggest threat IMO

[Tonyd621]

I remember when these websites to wager would last years before the feds would catch on. Now, it's like Sept 2018-march 2019. Now, it seems they are all < 2 years now.

[TommyNoto]

I remember when these websites to wager would last years before the feds would catch on. Now, it's like Sept 2018-march 2019. Now, it seems they are all < 2 years now.

It’s also very easy to change

As we speak his players are likely still able to bet

[Pogo The Clown]

In case anyone missed it one of people indicted is former Bonanno Capo Anthony “Little Anthony/Scal” Sclafani/73.


Pogo

[Wiseguy]

Here's the press release from the Brooklyn DA -




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 18, 2019


Six Defendants Indicted for Running Two
Internet-Based Sports Gambling Operations


Allegedly Accepted Over $11 Million in Wagers Over About Six Months

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced that six men from Staten Island and New Jersey have been variously charged in two indictments for running illegal Internet-based gambling operations that took in over $11 million in wagers on various professional and collegiate sporting events.

District Attorney Gonzalez said, “Illegal gambling is not a victimless crime, but an unlawful conduct that is often connected to loansharking, money laundering and to organized crime. These defendants are charged with allegedly running lucrative gambling operations that took in millions of dollars in bets. We have now shut down their enterprises and will seek to hold them accountable.”

The District Attorney identified the defendants as Ross Branca, 40, of Freehold, N.J., Stephen Barone, 56, of Jackson, N.J., Bryan “Faith” Kelly, 45, of Staten Island, Petrit “Pete” Lusha, 60, of Staten Island, Joseph “Joe Brooklyn” Melfi, 58, of Staten Island, and Anthony Sclafani, 73, of Staten Island.

They were arraigned today before Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Vincent Del Giudice on two indictments in which they are variously charged with fifth-degree conspiracy, first-degree promoting gambling and first-degree possession of gambling records. Branca is additionally charged with second-degree money laundering. The defendants were released without bail and ordered to return to court on March 9, 2020.

The District Attorney said that, according to the indictment, between September 2018 and March 2019, Branca acted as a Master Agent who controlled a number of Agents, namely Barone, Kelly and Lusha, each with his own set of clients. Members of the conspiracy allegedly accepted sports wagers from betting customers directly and via telephonic and electronic communications to and from Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island, New Jersey and elsewhere. They recorded some of the accepted wagers manually and some through the Internet sports gambling website www.Gameday365.ag, which is operated out of Costa Rica.

In addition, Branca allegedly received advice and assistance on logistical matters from Sclafani, During the period charged in the indictment, the operation accepted $9,091,613 in wagers, according to the investigation. The evidence also shows that Branca laundered over $100,000 of gambling proceeds from one of his bettors.

It is further alleged that, starting in February 2019, Kelly also utilized another website, www.playbig365.com. The investigation revealed that Melfi was the Master Agent of that website. Members of this second conspiracy operated in a similar manner to the one allegedly run by Branca. Between September 2018 and April 2019, that website accepted $1,928,499 in wagers, according to the investigation.

The case was investigated by the New York City Police Department’s Criminal Enterprise Investigations. Financial Investigator Veronica Beltran, of the District Attorney’s Asset Forfeiture and Crimes Against Revenue Bureau, and Investigative Paralegal Matthew Banwer, of the District Attorney’s Investigations Division, assisted in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Batsidis, of the District Attorney’s Asset Forfeiture and Crimes Against Revenue Bureau, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Gregory Mitchel, Bureau Chief, and Assistant District Attorney Christopher Blank, Chief of the District Attorney’s Organized Crime and Racketeering Unit, and the overall supervision of Assistant District Attorney Patricia McNeill, Chief of the Investigations Division.

http://www.brooklynda.org/2019/12/18/si ... perations/

[NJShore4Life]

I’m hearing that the mob sportbooks here in Jersey have been keeping the same customers and revenue but that now they’re just not growing revenue/players. Typically they were growing about 15% a year with new players/revenue but now they’re not growing anymore with the legalization of sports betting Jersey . The revenue/players are now flat since June 2018.

[Wiseguy]

I’m hearing that the mob sportbooks here in Jersey have been keeping the same customers and revenue but that now they’re just not growing revenue/players. Typically they were growing about 15% a year with new players/revenue but now they’re not growing anymore with the legalization of sports betting Jersey . The revenue/players are now flat since June 2018.

This goes back to discussions before when sports betting was legalized. The mob will be able to keep or attract those bettors who 1) want to bet on credit without putting up money, and 2) want to bet without having to pay taxes. But I wouldn't be surprised if we see illegal bookies also offer better odds to attract players away from legal avenues. I think it's safe to say there are old players who are fine staying with their bookie. Then there are new players that would only ever consider placing a legal bet. Then there are others who could go either way.