Mob-Run Gambling Ring Busted In Rockland: DA

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — Three local men are accused of being behind a long-running gambling ring and money laundering operation that took in and filtered millions of dollars. Acting Rockland County District Attorney Kevin Gilleece today announced the filing of criminal charges against all three.

Prosecutors described a highly sophisticated criminal enterprise that was controlled by purported members of organized crime.

“These arrests close down a highly lucrative gambling operation that benefited organized crime with large amounts of money every year," Gilleece said.

Accused are:

• John Andriello, 65, of 260 North Lincoln Street, Pearl River
• Marco Minuto, 61, of 4 Revere Court, Old Tappan, New Jersey
• Brian Levine, 48, of 54C Forest Dr., Garnerville

Minuto and Andriello are alleged to have managed the ring's day-to-day operations, settling bettor disputes, authorizing and accounting the debts and payouts and supervising numerous, lower-ranking employees. Search warrants executed at their homes recovered evidence of the gambling operation, prosecutors said.

Customers placed online bets, with runners responsible for “squaring up” or “settling up” with the bettors by collecting and paying out money owed. The cash collected was handed up to the members running the enterprise, prosecutors alleged.

All three were arrested Friday and arraigned in the Town of Orangetown Court in Orangeburg, prosecutors said.

Each is charged with Enterprise Corruption, a class “B” Felony, and Promoting Gambling in the First Degree, a class "E" Felony. They each face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

The probe leading to the arrests began several years ago when detectives from the Rockland County District Attorney's Office Special Investigations Unit developed information about a mob-run gambling ring operating in Rockland County.

They launched a joint investigation with the New York State Police Special Investigations Unit, the FBI, Town of Clarkstown Police, Town of Orangetown Police, Village of Spring Valley Police, Village of Piermont Police, as well as the Bergen County and Cape May County Prosecutors Offices in New Jersey. The investigation included physical surveillance, intelligence information and court-authorized electronic eavesdropping, prosecutors said.

"Make no mistake: illegal sports betting is by no means a victimless crime," Gilleece said. "Its proceeds underwrite more insidious forms of corruption, such as racketeering, drug trafficking and loan sharking. I want to commend the detectives, federal agents and our out-of-state partners who, together with the Rockland County District Attorney’s prosecutors, brought this trio to justice.”

The investigation is continuing, he said.

PHOTO/ Rockland County DA's Office

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