The CONSIGLIERE. Joseph
Caridi, | MOB
tied to gambling in Costa Rica
New York arrests reveal Mafia betting ties
hereLeaders of two mob
"families" with
organized crime operations in New York, were
arrested by the FBI, accused of operating
illegal gambling houses in Costa Rica, among
other charges.
For the second time this year, police
established a strong link between the
Italian Mafia in New York and Costa
Rican-based Internet gambling operations
known as "Sportsbooks."
Joseph Caridi, identified as one of the
leaders of the New York Luchese Mafia family
and arrested in New York Nov. 14, is being
accused, among other things, of running a
sportsbook here that was used to move tens
of thousands of dollars for the Luchese
family.
Anthony "Sonny" Ciccone, one of
the leaders of the rival Gambino family, is
also being indicted for allegedly moving
tens of thousands of dollars of Mafia money
through Costa Rican sportsbooks each week,
according to the report. Immigration records
show Ciccone entered the country on at least
three occasions between 1997 - 1998.
Another Italian with links to the Gambino
crime family, Dominick Curra -- one-time
personal bookie for mob boss John Gotti --
was arrested here last March at the U.S.'
request for conspiring to commit wire fraud
and selling $35 million in phony artwork.
Known by the mob name "Little
Dom", Curra owned and operated a
prosperous sportsbook.
Like "The Sopranos"
The life of Caridi, according to the
prosecutors in New York is "very
similar to that of Tony Soprano",
mob boss of the television series "The
Sopranos", who combined his domestic
life with the demands of his night club
where he did his business.
Caridi also is charged with defrauding the Internal Revenue Service.
Despite a lavish lifestyle, Caridi, the indictment alleges, failed to file
personal income tax returns from 1997 to 2001.
Police in New York
arrested a total of 27 alleged mobsters.
The New York allegations are extensive and based on court-ordered
telephone intercepts, according to a statement from the office of the U.S.
attorney in New York. |
