Lucchese Captain Anthony Villani Sentenced for Illegal Gambling Operations

Anthony Villani Sentenced for Leading Illegal Gambling Ring

Anthony Villani, a captain within the Lucchese organized crime family, has been sentenced to 21 months in prison by US District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. Villani was found guilty of racketeering, which included charges of money laundering and illegal gambling linked to his administration of a large-scale illegal online gambling enterprise connected to the La Cosa Nostra crime syndicate.

Details of the Court Sentence

Villani, aged 60 and residing in Elmsford, admitted guilt earlier this year to racketeering, money laundering, and illegal gambling charges. United States Attorney Nocella highlighted that Villani’s sentence reflects accountability for crimes committed to benefit both himself and the Lucchese crime family, amassing millions from their illicit operations. Nocella also underscored that despite the Mafia’s frequent involvement in illegal gambling and extortion, those who break the law face serious prison consequences.

Christopher G. Raia, FBI Assistant Director in Charge, remarked that the sentence is a fitting punishment for Villani’s extensive criminal activity pertaining to the illegal gambling enterprise. Raia emphasized that the FBI remains committed to pursuing organized crime members to dismantle their unlawful income streams and criminal networks.

Overview of the Illegal Gambling Operation

According to court documents, Villani’s illegal gambling business, referred to as the Gambling Business, operated continuously from 2004 until December 2020. The operation utilized offshore servers located in Costa Rica to run the online aspect of the business while employing local bookmakers in the United States to manage cash transactions, payouts, and collections. These bookmakers oversaw groups of bettors and regularly settled accounts with Villani, who earned a portion of their profits.

Villani relied on several trusted associates to help operate the gambling network. Notably, Louis Tucci, Jr., and Dennis Filizzola acted as co-defendants and reported directly to Villani. Their tasks included gathering and distributing money from other bookmakers, with frequent meetings held with Villani to coordinate efforts.

Alongside running the gambling enterprise, Villani and Filizzola engaged in a money laundering scheme designed to conceal the illegal origins of their profits. Following Villani’s direction, Filizzola purchased U.S. Postal Service money orders in fictitious names using proceeds from the gambling business. These money orders were then made payable to one of Villani’s real estate companies to create an illusion of legitimate rental income.

According to court records, the operation generated at least $35 million in illicit earnings over the years, with Villani personally profiting by about $15 million. In addition to his prison term, Villani was ordered to forfeit $4 million as part of the legal penalties for his crimes.