Two mobsters of Italian origin who reside in New York accepted to collect money for criminal organizations. The money was the result of bets made in websites based in Costa Rica.
This is one of the many cases uncovered by US authorities confirming the link between mafia groups and the operation of betting centers in Costa Rica.
Anthony Vazzano and John Tognino pleaded guilty to leading illegal poker tournaments, illegal dice tournaments and horse racing betting.
Both of them were part of 46 arrests by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Southern District of New York in August of last year. Apparently, the subjects are part of four of the five great mafia families of the city: the Genovese, the Gambino, the Lucchese and the Bonnano.
Precisely, one of the 46 subjects, identified as Laurence Allen, lives in Costa Rica.
I would go and collect the profits. I just picked up my friends’ bets and I knew it was against the law,”
Tognino told Judge Richard Sullivan.
US officials hope that on May 19th, 37 of the gangs involved will plead guilty to the crimes. Apparently, the grouping is related to other crimes such as credit card fraud and firearms trafficking.