Lucchese Crime Family Members Plead Guilty to Illegal Gambling and Racketeering

Five individuals admitted to operating a multimillion-dollar online betting operation under Mafia protection in New York City.

Anthony Villani, a Lucchese crime family soldier, pleaded guilty to racketeering, money laundering, and illegal gambling in federal court in Brooklyn.
Villani operated Rhino Sports, an illegal online gambling business, since the early 2000s, generating millions in annual profits from 400 to 1,300 weekly bettors.
The operation used servers in Costa Rica and employed Mafia members as local bookmakers to enforce payments and protect against rivals.
Villani agreed to forfeit $4 million as part of his plea deal and faces up to 20 years in prison at sentencing.
Four associates also pleaded guilty to related charges, with one defendant still at large, underscoring the ongoing presence of organized crime activities in the region.