Another conviction linked to Gambino gambling operation

Last week Victor Amereno (43), the operator of the Blue Cactus Grill in Norwalk was handed down a six-month prison term by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L.Bryant for running an illegal gambling business.

Amereno’s sentence is the latest in a string of arrests following a combined investigation undertaken by the FBI, IRS and US Police into 20 plus bookmakers and their associates thought to be linked to the Gambino crime family’s illegal gambling rackets in the United States .

Bookmaker Amereno reportedly answered to Richard Uva (45) who was recently sentenced to 46 months in prison.

The gambling racket covered street bookmakers who paid a fee to the Gambino’s, gambling houses and the Costa Rica-based internet website.

Authorities recorded Amereno contacting the Gambino-run website in October 2010 requesting customer services to reduce a gambler’s betting maximum.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen told the court that Amereno received half of his gamblers losses, making almost $39 000 over 38 weeks.

Amereno was additionally ordered by the Court to forfeit $15 000.