Sports Gambling Ring Busted
A major illegal sports-gambling ring based in Queens and Costa Rica and controlled by the Bonanno organized-crime family has been busted, authorities announced Wednesday.

The operation allegedly handled each day up to 2,000 bets, totaling nearly us$500,000 -- and more than us$360 million over more than two years, officials said.

Thirty-six people have been indicted on charges stemming from the wagers on horse racing, pro baseball and football, and other sporting events, authorities said.

Among those charged in a 39-count enterprise corruption indictment was Dominic Valila, the head groundskeeper at Shea Stadium, and a "runner" who kept bettor lists; paid wins and collected losses; and recruited new bettors, prosecutors said.

The 2005 Mets media guide lists Valila as part of the stadium operations and security staff.

In any case, prosecutors say Valila, 39, of Floral Park, a Mets employee since 1986, allegedly handled more than $200,000 worth of bets each year.

Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said he was satisfied, but stressed he wanted to make it "very, very clear" that there's no evidence that any Mets player, manager, coach or front-office personnel were among the bettors.

Valila was among 31 people arrested Monday and yesterday in the case, Brown said. Five other suspects remained at large, including four in Costa Rica, he said. They also were indicted on charges of promoting gambling, possession of gambling records and conspiracy. If convicted, each defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.

Valila, who has no criminal record, was arraigned before Justice Richard Buchter in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens and released without bail.

Valila ran from the courthouse after his release and declined to talk with reporters. His attorney, Frank Adipietro, of Hempstead, also declined comment.

The Mets released a statement about the gambling probe, saying the organization commends Brown and his office for "taking the action with respect to the involvement of any employee at Shea Stadium and will continue to do so."

Dubbed "Operation Toll Free," the two-year investigation found that the gambling ring operated three "wire rooms" that handled wagers averaging $250 each at residences in Kew Gardens Hills, Flushing and San Jose, Costa Rica, authorities said.

The indictment also names, as an unindicted co-conspirator, reputed Bonanno acting boss Anthony Urso, who allegedly received an unspecified monthly "tribute" from the gambling ring for the crime family's protection, Brown said.

Urso is in jail awaiting sentencing in Brooklyn federal court on racketeering, gambling and loan sharking convictions.

The gambling enterprise relied on modern technology including computers, the Internet, e-mail and AOL instant messaging to www.safedepositsports.com and a toll-free telephone number to generate proceeds, officials said.

The alleged ringleader, Christopher Bruno, 34, of Bethpage, was ordered held on $3 million bail. Buchter set $500,000 bail for one of Bruno's partners, Joseph Amato, 40, of Massapequa, who was the ring's "enforcer." A third partner, Dana Antal, 36, was in custody in Pennsylvania, prosecutors said.

"We've removed assets from criminals and this money ... is just being used to finance other criminal activities," said Capt. Thomas Marmian of the New York State Police. He also said the 50,000 conversations recorded on court-authorized wiretaps should help authorities with unrelated criminal investigations on Long Island and upstate.