U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Judge Sends La Cosa Nostra Soldier To Prison
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
PHILADELPHIA – Eric Esposito, 43, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today to 27 months in prison for conducting an illegal gambling business on behalf of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family. In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Judge Eduardo C. Robreno ordered three years of supervised release and a fine of $4,000.
On Feb. 21, 2014, after a week-long contested trial, a jury convicted Esposito of conducting an illegal gambling business involving the use of video poker machines at a private social club known as the “First Ward Republican Club” located in South Philadelphia. According to evidence presented at trial, Esposito was a fully initiated mob solider who worked in concert with other mob members to carry out the illegal gambling business on behalf of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family.
A total of 13 leaders, members and associates of the Philadelphia La Cosa Nostra Family have been convicted by a jury or pleaded guilty as part of this case. To date, 12 defendants have been sentenced and one is awaiting sentencing.
The case is being investigated by the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, the Pennsylvania State Police, the New Jersey State Police, the Philadelphia Police Department, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Inspector General Office of Labor Racketeering and Fraud Investigations, and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration. Additional assistance was provided by the New Jersey Department of Corrections.
The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney John S. Han of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Frank A. Labor III and Suzanne B. Ercole of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Valuable prosecutorial assistance was provided by the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.
UNITED STATES ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, EASTERN DISTRICTof PENNSYLVANIA
Suite 1250, 615 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
PATTY HARTMAN, Media Contact, 215-861-8525
Updated December 15, 2014
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