Criminal Mastermind in New York Receives Penalty for Unlawful Gambling Network
In a significant move against illegal gambling operations, the Rhino Sports online gambling platform, linked to the Lucchese crime family, has been shut down as part of a federal crackdown. The key defendant in this case is Anthony Villani, a reputed soldier of the Lucchese family, who was sentenced to 21 months in prison by US District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto for his involvement in the Rhino Sports racket.
The illegal platform, which operated from the early 2000s for nearly two decades, had servers in Costa Rica and held an offshore gambling license, making it illegal to offer betting to US customers. The Rhino Sports site reportedly made a profit of $35 million during its operation.
Anthony Villani, along with three other defendants - Dennis Filizzola, Louis Tucci Jr., Michael Praino (working under "Platinum"), and James Coumoutsos (operating under "Quick") - have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing. Villani is facing extortion charges for allegedly threatening a person referred to as John Doe in court documents.
The sentencing of Anthony Villani marks a key enforcement milestone in the shutdown of the Rhino Sports platform. The exact shutdown date is not provided, but it is clear that the platform was effectively closed around this time due to legal actions against those running the illegal operation.
The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella Jr., announced the verdict, and Assistant Director in Charge for the FBI, Christopher G. Raia, also confirmed the sentencing.
Currently, New York State requires that gambling sites be licensed by the New York State Gaming Commission for legal operation. As of June, there are eight legal online sportsbooks operating in the state. Resorts World Bet left the state in June, reducing the number of legal online sportsbooks in New York State.
[1] This article is based on publicly available information and official court documents. For the latest updates and more detailed information, please refer to official sources.
The Rhino Sports casino-and-gambling platform, illegally linked to the crime-and-justice sector and the Lucchese crime family, was shut down as part of a federal crackdown, with servers in Costa Rica and an offshore gambling license, leading to its illegal operation against US customers. The main defendant, Anthony Villani, a reputed soldier of the Lucchese family, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for his involvement in running the casino-games section of the Rhino Sports racket, and is currently facing extortion charges. This development marks a significant milestone in the general-news arena, as the closure of this platform is a victory for the enforcement of law and justice.
