The mafia’s link to illegal poker games in NBA scandal – WMTV
City’s most infamous crime syndicates, including the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese families. These criminal organizations, collectively known as La Cosa Nostra, have a long-standing history of conducting illegal activities in New York City, often competing with each other for control and power.
The recent investigations have uncovered a sophisticated operation where mob families collaborated and utilized advanced technology to manipulate poker games, allegedly defrauding a victim of nearly $2 million. The defendants allegedly resorted to threats, intimidation, and violence to ensure payment from those who refused to comply with their demands.
Authorities meticulously reviewed thousands of hours of surveillance footage to identify key individuals involved in the scheme, such as a man known as “Big Bruce.” Court documents revealed that the group had existing ties to illegal gambling operations backed by the Bonanno crime family before embarking on the poker rigging scheme. Another defendant, referred to as “Flappy,” confirmed in text messages that his operation was supported by the Gambino crime family.
The illegal gambling ring orchestrated by these individuals exploited unsuspecting victims, resulting in substantial financial losses and providing a source of funding for additional criminal endeavors conducted by La Cosa Nostra. One defendant, Robert Stroud, also known as “Black Rob,” allegedly supplied manipulated shuffling machines to the operation and participated in a robbery to acquire one.
According to Sal Piacente, president of UniverSal Game Protection, the shuffle machines were tampered with to relay information to an earpiece, enabling operatives to predict the outcome of the games. Federal prosecutors have sought the detention of several defendants with ties to organized crime, including Angelo Ruggiero Jr. of the Gambino family, who boasted of his association with former boss John Gotti Sr. and claimed to have committed acts of violence.
While some defendants have entered not guilty pleas, and a few have been released on bail, the investigations continue to unravel the intricate web of criminal activities orchestrated by the mafia in connection with the NBA gambling scandal. The revelations have shed light on the pervasive influence of organized crime in illicit gambling operations and the lengths to which these groups will go to maintain their control and profitability.