Online gambling ring leader “Captain Crunch” in Manhattan court

The alleged ringleader of an illegal online sports betting operation, Anthony (Skinny) Santoro, will soon know whether he is to walk free or face jail time as his three-month trial in the Manhattan Supreme Court draws to a conclusion.

The court is due to charge the jury this (Wednesday) morning before the panel retires to begin its deliberations.

The prosecution, led by Assistant District Attorney Gary Galperin, alleges that Santoro has connections with the Bonanno organised crime family, and was a key element in the gambling ring, responsible to co-defendants Vito Badamo and Ernest Aiello for the ring’s gambling operations.

The trio stand accused of enterprise corruption, including loan sharking, gambling and drug dealing after authorities shuttered the ring in mid-2013, with the gambling element including a Costa Rica-based website allaction247.com.

Prosecutors claim that Santoro, also known as “Captain Crunch” worked his way up through the Bonanno organised crime structure to a management position overseeing a crew involved in illegal activity.

He was allegedly in charge of an Internet gambling site, sold prescription drugs on the black market, and the other three defendants were his associates.

During summations, defence attorneys argued the co-defendants were targeted because they were Italian-American and their alleged mob ties were based on social stereotypes.

But Galperin responded: “There is no reasonable doubt these co-defendants are guilty of pattern acts of enterprise corruption. Announce to this captain and this crew that their ship will set sail no more.”

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