Five members and associates of the Lucchese crime family have entered guilty pleas to charges relating to their involvement in running a multi-million dollar illegal gambling operation known as "Rhino Sports." The plea agreements were finalized last Thursday, January 30, 2025, in federal court, highlighting significant enforcement action against organized crime.
Federal prosecutors revealed during the proceedings, which took place in Brooklyn, New York, the details of the operation, which has purportedly been active since the early 2000s. This large-scale gambling enterprise, described as being backed by La Cosa Nostra, generated illicit profits amounting to millions annually and saw itself being operated within New York City, particularly centered around the Bronx and Westchester County.
Among the defendants is Anthony Villani, 60, who has admitted to his role as one of the key figures, acknowledging charges of racketeering, money laundering, and illegal gambling. Villani has agreed to forfeit $4 million under the terms of his plea deal as he faces up to 20 years in prison. Villani's operation reportedly involved taking bets from between 400 to 1,300 individuals each week, making it one of the more significant illicit betting operations active during this era.
Villani’s gambling enterprise was not just about placing bets; it was also intricately connected with money laundering schemes. Categorically, he facilitated funneling cash through fraudulent rental payments for his various properties to disguise illicit earnings. His financial tactics were backed and executed through key associates, including Dennis Filizzola, 61, of Cortlandt Manor, who also pleaded guilty recently and faces similar potential sentencing.
Filizzola’s role was primarily focused on financial management within the operation. He specialized in money laundering and illegal sports betting and also faces up to 20 years when he is sentenced. Another notable mention is Louis Tucci Jr., 61, of Tuckahoe, who pleaded guilty to illegal gambling with the risk of serving up to five years behind bars.
According to U.S. Attorney John Durham, who discussed the crackdowns, "These guilty pleas represent a victory for the rule of law over the pernicious activities of organized crime... Illegal gambling businesses require enforcement and protection from mob rivals..." His comments highlighted both the persistent threat organized crime poses and the efforts by law enforcement to dismantle such organizations.
The operation itself was not small-time; it was rife with activity and notable for the use of bookmakers who also had ties to the Lucchese crime family. Villani and his cohorts, including James Coumoutsos, 62, of the Bronx, and Michael Praino, 47, of Lake Worth, Florida, each admitted involvement recently and could face significant sentences of up to five years. Their guilty pleas come against the backdrop of extended investigations led by the FBI’s Westchester Organized Crime Task Force, which is still actively seeking to locate one remaining individual connected to these charges.
With the guilty pleas of these five members, federal authorities are sending a strong message about the consequences of organized crime. "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," Durham remarked. This incident reinforces the enforcement priorities surrounding illegal gambling and the connections with organized crime families.
The fallout from this case spans beyond individual accountability; it raises questions about the methods through which these criminal enterprises will attempt to operate moving forward. Given the federal government’s resolve, the looming legal repercussions serve as both deterrence and validation for law enforcement agencies battling organized crime.
Overall, the guilty pleas of the Lucchese family's members signify not just the culmination of one case but part of broader efforts to restore safety and adhere to rule of law within the New York metropolitan area. The legal repercussions they face will refrain from erasing the longstanding connections and impact these crime families have had on the communities they have infiltrated.