Luchese Crime Family Captain Sentenced to Prison for Racketeering, Money Laundering, and Illegal Gambling

Earlier today, in federal court in Brooklyn, Anthony Villani, a captain in the Luchese organized crime family, was sentenced by United States District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto to 21 months in prison following his conviction for racketeering with predicate acts of money laundering and illegal gambling related to his running of a large-scale, illegal online gambling business  that operated under the protection of the Luchese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra.  The gambling business, known as “Rhino Sports,” operated since the early 2000s and brought in at least $35 million in illicit profits during its operation.  As part of the sentence, Villani was ordered to pay $4 million in forfeiture.

Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) announced the sentence.

“Today’s sentence holds Villani accountable for racketeering crimes committed on behalf of the Luchese organized crime family, while lining the enterprise’s coffers and his own pockets with millions of dollars,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Illegal gambling and extortion may be commonplace for the Mafia, but a prison term is a bitter outcome for mobsters who show no regard for the law.” 

“Anthony Villani, a Luchese organized crime family captain, has been justly sentenced for his extensive criminal exploits related to his illegal gambling operation.  Today’s sentencing should serve as a warning to the Mafia and all organized criminal members, the FBI will continue to hold you accountable for the illicit criminal enterprises you rely on to fund your lifestyles and broader criminal activity,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.

According to court filings, the gambling business (the Gambling Business) that Villani supervised was in continuous operation from at least 2004 through December 2020.  During that period, the Gambling Business was hosted online using offshore servers in Costa Rica and employed local bookmakers to pay and collect winnings in cash.  Bookmakers were responsible for taking wagers from a group of bettors, collecting and paying individual bettors, and settling with Villani.  Villani received a percentage of each bookmaker’s earnings.  Records obtained from the Gambling Business’s website indicated that Villani’s illegal gambling operation regularly took bets from between 400 and 1,300 bettors each week, most of whom were based in New York City and the metropolitan area.  Villani’s bookmakers regularly included members and associates of the Luchese crime family and other La Cosa Nostra families.  Villani personally made at least $15 million in illegal profits from his work as the leader of the Gambling Business.  

Villani employed several trusted associates to help him manage the Gambling Business.  These employees included co-defendants Louis Tucci, Jr. and Dennis Filizzola, who reported directly to Villani as part of their work for the Gambling Business.  Both were responsible for picking up and collecting money from other bookmakers and met frequently with Villani.  In addition, co-defendants James Coumoutsos, who operated in the Gambling Business under the name “Quick,” and Michael Praino, who operated under the name “Platinum,” were bookmakers for the Gambling Business.  These four co-defendants previously pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.  As part of their sentences, they have agreed to pay approximately $1 million in forfeiture.

In addition to operating the Gambling Business, Villani and Filizzola engaged in money laundering to conceal the source and nature of the significant illicit proceeds. At Villani’s direction, Filizzola took proceeds from the Gambling Business and used them to purchase U.S. Postal Service money orders in false names, which were then made payable to one of Villani’s property companies to appear as legitimate rental payments.

In addition to operating the Gambling Business and laundering its illicit proceeds, Villani also extorted John Doe.  Between October 2019 and October 2020, Villani threatened John Doe over the non-payment of approximately $300,000 that he stole from the Gambling Business.   Villani made several threats to John Doe.  Among these threats, Villani stated on April 27, 2020, “I’m not going to repeat myself.  I’m not going to ever say this again.  We’re just going to have a problem if I find out.  Alright?  And I don’t want to threaten you with my friends or anything, I’m not gonna, you put me in a f-----g hole with this guy?”  Villani’s threats against John Doe escalated and later on October 10, 2020, he stated, “Listen, get the f-----g money.  I’m telling you right now, you don’t get this money – f-----g run away.  Go get this f-----g money.”  Based on these threats and others, John Doe believed that the defendant or other members of the Luchese crime family would physically hurt or kill him if he did not repay the debt.  

The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Antoinette N. Rangel is in charge of the prosecution.  Assistant United States Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.

The Defendant:

ANTHONY VILLANI
Age:  60
Pleasantville, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-405 (KAM)