Connecticut online sports betting ring busted

Enforcement agencies moved Wednesday against 20 individuals in southwestern Connecticut accused of being involved in an online sports betting ring. The action followed the unsealing of a May 8 Grand Jury indictment that claims New York crime family involvement in the illegal enterprise.

Prosecutors allege that operators of internet sports gambling activities in territory controlled by the Gambino family made “tribute” payments to the organised crime family.

Those arrested have been charged with involvement in a bookmaking operation in which gamblers placed bets with offshore Internet sports-gambling websites, including one based in Costa Rica, the Associated Press news agency reported late Wednesday.

The participants collected and distributed money among bettors locally and sent proceeds to others involved in the ring, prosecutors claimed.

“Federal authorities are seeking forfeiture of about $1.7 million in illegal proceeds, including $174,537 in cash seized in an April 2011 search of the former Stamford residence of Richard “Big Baldy” Uva,” AP advises. “Uva was among those indicted, along with Dean “Little Baldy” Depreta, 44, of Stamford. Depreta is accused of operating illegal card gambling clubs with others in Stamford and Hamden and reporting to the Gambino family.”

Enforcement officials disclosed that the investigation of the ring had included court-authorised wiretaps over seven months and the execution of search warrants in three states. Several police departments were involved along with the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service.

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