The New York Attorney arrested and charged 13 men linked to a mafia organization that operated an online betting center from Costa Rica.
The suspects are linked to a mafia structure of the Genovesa family, one of the five major organizations that control organized crime in New York and it is closely related to La Cosa Nostra.
The website, 4Spades.org, would have been used to develop illegal betting. However, they are also accused of offering illegal loans at high rates. In addition, it seems that they sold millions of illegal cigarettes in New York.
The Shark Bait Operation” was a long-term investigation to alleged members of the Genovese family: Salvatore DeMeo and his partners; Gennaro Geritano, Eugene Orefice and Anthony “Alforfón” Giammarino, among others,
declared the New York prosecutor.
US law prohibits its citizens to profit from gambling websites located in other countries.
The investigation was possible through the interception of telephone calls and other unpublished measures.
The prosecution explained that all detainees are suspects until proven guilty.
The detainees are:
-Salvatore DeMeo (76), Brooklyn, NY.
-Eugene Orefice (48), Monroe Township, NJ.
-Gennaro Geritano (62), Brooklyn, NY.
-Anthony Giammarino (65), Brooklyn, NY.
-Joseph Tommasino (52), Staten Island, NY.
-Thomas Alexiou (55), Brooklyn, NY.
-Rocco Maglione (46), Brooklyn, NY.
-Windsor Lewis (66), Brooklyn, NY.
-Mario Leonardi (76), Odenville, AL.
-Vincent Taliercio (65), Brooklyn, NY.
-Jackie Charlton (53), Brooklyn, NY.
-Michael Epstein (48), Brooklyn, NY.
-John Giglio (55), Staten Island, NY.