The son of a legendary mafia capo, a beginner made man and a mobster who did time for an notorious Queens racial assault had been among the many 13 mobsters busted alongside NBA stars in a sweeping historic playing bust, in accordance with a brand new federal indictment.
Among the many most outstanding of the gangsters who had been delt into the high-stakes scams is Angelo Ruggiero Jr, the son of the late Gambino captain Angelo “Quack Quack” Ruggiero Sr.
Ruggiero Jr’s father was shut mates with infamous Gambino boss John Giotti, who helped plan the homicide of Gambino chief Paul Castellano in 1985.
When Gotti turned head of the crime household, he promoted Ruggiero, who later acted as a liaison for the household whereas Gotti stood trial for homicide in 1992.
The gangster — who earned his ducky nickname due to his penchant for speaking loads and who did issues like threaten to feed folks to sharks — turned notorious as a result of the feds picked him up on wiretaps complaining about his mob bosses and used his feedback in case towards Castellano.
The youthful Ruggiero, who can be a made man, now stands accused of receiving “proceeds” of the rigged poker video games “on behalf of the Gambino crime household.”
A second wiseguy arrested for his alleged position within the FBI’s playing and poker probe is Ernest “Ernie” Aiello — who made headlines for inquiring in court docket about how he can keep away from mob ties and nonetheless eat at his favourite Italian bakery again in 2018.
The 43-year-old Bonanno crime household mobster was busted for loansharking, playing and drug dealing in July 2013, however finally walked free after a mistrial in Could 2017.
Throughout a court docket listening to the subsequent yr, a decide warned him to not commiserate with fellow mobsters —which Aiello stated might spoil his breakfast, since he frequents a beloved Italian bakery in Brooklyn.
Comply with The Publish’s newest on the playing scandal rocking the NBA:
The decide, in flip, warned him to easily preserve his visits to Fortunato Brothers Cafe in Williamsburg brief and candy, in accordance with the Day by day Information.
He’s now accused of receiving a portion of the felony proceeds from the rigged poker video games on behalf of the Bonanno crime household.
Busted Gambino wiseguy Lee Fama, in the meantime, has a historical past of cleansing up on the poker desk.
In 2012, because the Drug Enforcement Administration probed him for drug expenses he gained large enjoying poker at casinos in Vegas and Atlantic Metropolis, The Publish reported on the time.
Fama raked in additional than $22,000 at poker tournaments on the Borgata in Atlantic Metropolis and $666 at a Las Vegas’s Rio resort as Drug Enforcement Administration officers probed him for conspiring to distribute marijuana in 2012.
The FBI has arrested 31 folks concerned in a rigged poker sport ring backed by the New York Metropolis organized crime households.
- Ernest Aiello — reputed Bonanno mobster
- Nelson Alvarez
- Louis Apicella
- Ammar Awawdeh
- Saul Becher — skilled poker participant
- Chauncey Billups — Portland Path Blazers coach, NBA Corridor of Famer and 2004 NBA champion
- Matthew Daddino
- Eric Earnest
- Lee Fama — skilled poker participant
- John Gallo
- Marco Garzon
- Thomas Gelardo — aka “Tommy Juice,” reputed Lucchese mobster charged in 2013 for beating porn star girlfriend
- Jamie Gilet
- Tony Goodson
- Kenny Han
- Shane Henne
- Osman Hoti
- Horatio Hu
- Zhen Hu
- Damon Jones — NBA participant from 1998 to 2009
- Joseph Lanni
- John Mazzola
- Curtis Meeks
- Nicholas Minucci
- Michael Renzulli
- Anthony Ruggiero Jr.
- Anthony Shnayderman
- Robert Stroud
- Seth Trustman
- Sophia Wei
- Julius Ziliani
He was later arrested for allegedly shopping for and promoting a number of kilos of marijuana.
He’s now accused of getting proceeds from the rigged card video games on behalf of the Gambino crime household.
Nicholas “Fats Nick” Minucci — a Gambino affiliate who was convicted of beating a black child with a baseball bat whereas shouting the N-word in 2005 — was additionally busted within the NBA playing case.
Minucci, 39, of East Northport, was convicted of the hate crime after chasing down battery sufferer Glenn Moore.
On the time, Fats Nick claimed he was not a bigot and stated he solely chased down Moore as a result of he thought he’d come to Howard Seashore to steal automobiles. He was finally sentenced to fifteen years in jail.
He’s now accused of taking part on “dishonest groups” through the rigged card video games.
Matthew “The Wrestler” Daddino — a hulking beginner Genovese made man and former star highschool wrestler from Lengthy Island— was additionally indicted through the historic playing bust.
Daddino is “a just lately inducted member” and “rising star” of the crime household, Gangland Information reported in March 2024.
He’s accused of receiving money from the rigged card video games on behalf of the Genovese household.
In complete, 13 members and associates of the Bonanno, Gambino, Lucchese, and Genovese crime households had been arrested within the playing and sports activities betting bust.
