Bookie Pleads Guilty in Stamford Sports Betting Operation

Another suspect has pleaded guilty to his involvement with an illegal sports gambling operation in Stamford.

According to an announcement from Connecticut U.S. Attorney Deirdre M. Daly, Salvatore Ferraioli, 33, of Staten Island, NY, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Hartford federal court to a federal tax charge stemming from his involvement in the operation.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Ferraioli was a bookmaker in a sports gambling operation run by Dean DePreta and Richard Uva, two alleged associates of the Gambino organized crime family. DePreta and Uva used sports-gambling websites, particularly 44wager.com based in Costa Rica, to conduct their bookmaking operation.

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FBI analysis of 44wager.com website data determined that the total gross revenues of the Stamford-based gambling operation were nearly $1.7 million from October 2010 to June 2011.

In court, Ferraioli admitted to being a bookmaker in the operation, and for failing to register with the Internal Revenue Service or to file a wagering tax return in 2011.

Ferraioli pleaded guilty to one count of failing to file a wagering tax return. He faces a maximum term of imprisonment of one year and a fine of up to $25,000 when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant on June 17. Ferraioli also agreed to forfeit $160,988, and to pay back taxes, interest and penalties.

The case was investigated by the FBI Fairfield County Organized Crime Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation Division, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department and the Connecticut State Police, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hal Chen and Peter Jongbloed.

Related stories:

• Men Operating Stamford Gambling Ring Sentenced to Federal Prison
• Trumbull Man Charged with Gambino-related Money Laundering, Racketeering, Gambling
• Arrests in Suspected CT La Cosa Nostra Ring