3 charged in Providence gambling bust

[Wiseguy]

Not sure of any mob connection...



Gambling operation suspect faced similar charges before
By Walt Buteau
April 1, 2015

(Video at Link Below)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — When Edward Perrotta was arrested in a Tuesday morning raid at the Toscan Social Club on Federal Hill, it was a flashback to the mid 90s for him and investigators.

The 72-year-old, his son John Perrotta, 48, and Gregory Fleury, 47, were taken into custody as Rhode Island State Police, Providence Police and the FBI executed three search warrants following what they say was a three month investigation, initiated by the RISP Intelligence Unit.

The Target 12 Investigators first reported the bust after plain-clothes officers and uniformed troopers were seen removing dozens of illegal video lottery terminals from Avalon Entertainment, a vending machine business on Douglas Pike in Smithfield. The investigative team had already raided the bright red building on Spruce Street that houses the Toscan Social Club, where Fleury was arrested along with Perrotta. The younger Perrotta was taken into custody at the Douglas Pike business, which he owns, according to tax records.

Nineteen years ago, when he was about his son’s age, the elder Perrotta was nabbed in a probe that alleged he conspired with several others to disperse and maintain approximately 50 illegal gambling machines in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. Three years later he was arrested on extortion charges and he eventually served 37 months in prison, according to state police.

State Police Lt. Colonel Todd Catlow said in addition to executing search warrants at the social club and Smithfield business, officers also executed a warrant for the elder Perrotta’s car. The evidence haul included betting slips and ledgers from the social club and more than $110,000 in cash, with just over $92,000 of that seized from the Smithfield location. Another $13,000 was seized from the elder Perrotta’s car.

Catlow said the one lottery terminal pulled from the social club was active, and the unplugged machines confiscated in Smithfield had been.

“There was evidence in the (Smithfield) building that those machines were used for illegal purposes,” Catlow said. “As far as the breakdown of the houses, it’s still under investigation. The investigation is ongoing.”

The Perrottas face four charges each: organized criminal gambling, forms of gambling prohibited, keeping of gambling places or devices and conspiracy. Fleury faces forms of gambling prohibited, keeping of gambling places or devices and conspiracy. The trio is scheduled to appear in court on June 8.

http://wpri.com/2015/04/01/gambling-ope ... es-before/

[Pogo The Clown]

This looks mob connected. At least on the periphery.


Pogo

[SonnyBlackstein]

Anybody know if this guys made?

[JerryB]

I'm gonna risk a guess that Perrotta is a long time associate, if not a soldata, under (now jailed) capo Eddie Lato (Patriarca).

Perrotta got popped by the G, along with Lato and Patriarca soldata Rocco Folco back in 1999 for multiple counts of shylocking and did time.

Reference: District of Rhode Island (Providence) case no: 1:99-cr-00033-T-LDA-10

[Wiseguy]

I'm gonna risk a guess that Perrotta is a long time associate, if not a soldata, under (now jailed) capo Eddie Lato (Patriarca).

Perrotta got popped by the G, along with Lato and Patriarca soldata Rocco Folco back in 1999 for multiple counts of shylocking and did time.

Reference: District of Rhode Island (Providence) case no: 1:99-cr-00033-T-LDA-10

Thanks for the information, Jerry.