FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
APRIL 22, 2009
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ARTHUR GIANELLI AND OTHERS FOUND GUILTY AFTER 31-DAY RACKETEERING AND ARSON TRIAL
BOSTON, MA - After a 31-day trial in U.S. District Court, a jury this afternoon found ARTHUR GIANELLI, age 51, of Lynnfield, Massachusetts; DENNIS ALBERTELLI, age 56, of Stow, Massachusetts; his wife GISELE ALBERTELLI, age 54; and FRANK IACABONI, age 64, of Leominster, Massachusetts, guilty of racketeering and other charges.
Acting United States Attorney Michael K. Loucks, Susan M. Dukes, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation - Boston Field Office, Glenn N. Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives - Boston Field Division, Colonel Mark Delaney, Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police, and Jonathan W. Blodgett, District Attorney of Essex County, announced today that the defendants were found guilty by the jury of the following charges:
ARTHUR GIANELLI was found guilty of racketeering; operating an illegal sports bookmaking business; operating an illegal electronic gaming (video poker) machine business; use of wire facilities (telephone and Internet) to transmit bookmaking information; multiple counts of money laundering; attempted arson of the Big Dog Sports Grille in Reading, Massachusetts; use of fire to commit extortion; extortion involving the Big Dog Sports Grille in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, McCarthy’s Bar and Grille in Boston, and Clarke’s Turn of the Century Saloon in Boston; and multiple counts of using extortionate means to collect debts.
DENNIS ALBERTELLI was found guilty of racketeering; operating an illegal sports bookmaking business; operating an illegal electronic gaming (video poker) machine business; operating an illegal football card gambling business; use of wire facilities (telephone and Internet) to transmit bookmaking information; multiple counts of money laundering; attempted arson of the Big Dog Sports Grille in Reading, Massachusetts; use of fire to commit extortion; and extortion.
GISELE ALBERTELLI was found guilty of racketeering; operating an illegal football card gambling business; and multiple counts of money laundering.
FRANK IACABONI was found guilty of racketeering conspiracy; operating an illegal sports bookmaking business; operating an illegal football card gambling business; attempted arson of the Big Dog Sports Grille in Reading, Massachusetts; use of fire to commit extortion; and extortion.
U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton, who presided at the trial, scheduled sentencing of ARTHUR GIANELLI for July 17, 2009; DENNIS ALBERTELLI for July 23, 2009; FRANK IACABONI for July 24, 2009; and GISELE ALBERTELLI for July 29, 2009.
ARTHUR GIANELLI was detained pending trial and will continue in detention. DENNIS ALBERTELLI and FRANK IACABONI were remanded today, immediately following the guilty verdict. GISELE ALBERTELLI is released on bail until sentencing.
The arson-related counts carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment. The racketeering and other charges carry additional possible sentences.
Previously convicted in this case, on guilty pleas, have been JOSEPH YERARDI, JR., RAFIA FEGHI, a/k/a “RAFIA YERARDI,” PHILIP PUOPOLO, DEEB HOMSI, MICHAEL McCORMACK, SEAN SLATER, TONY DANIELS, TODD WESTERMAN, MARY ANN GIANELLI, SALVATORE RAMASCI, a/k/a “LEFTY,” RANDY ALBERTELLI, and STEPHEN RUSSO, a/k/a “MOON.”
Previously convicted in this case, in prior trials, have been JOSEPH MERCURIO and DENNIS JENKS.
The case was investigated by the Massachusetts State Police, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Fred M. Wyshak, Jr., Michael L. Tabak and Natashia Tidwell.
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