Mafia $8 Million Sports Betting Ring Busted In New York

Following a two and a half-year investigation into an illegal sport betting operation running from Queens County, four men have now been placed under arrest.
The group with ties to the Mob were apparently able to rake in $8 million since 2008 using a gambling site called arrowaction.net and offshore accounts to promote their illegal gambling business.
Amongst the men arrested was Bonanno soldier Michael Palmaccio, 39, who acted as the ring’s bookmaker. Fellow conspirator Cono Natale, 46, would then act as the “runner” and recruit bettors, while Gerry Gullotti, 45, and Ronald Salerno, 33, were largely responsible for the group’s loan sharking operation and collecting debts.
As a result of the successful investigation conducted by The District Attorney of Organized Crime & Rackets Bureau in Queens New York, the four men now find themselves indicted on sixty-four counts of promoting gambling and conspiracy.
If found guilty, Palmaccio and Gullotti could receive up to fifteen years behind bars, while Natale and Salerno could face up to four years in federal prison.
Sending out a tough anti-gambling warning, Queens District attorney Richard A. Brown said:
“Illegal gambling is not a victimless crime. Those who participate in these criminal operations often use threats, intimidation and even physical force to collect debts and oftentimes charge usurious interest rates on outstanding debts. Today’s indictments will send a clear signal that when it comes to illegal gambling in Queens County, all bets are off.”
Palmaccio and Gullotti are now out on $35,000 bails a piece, while that of Natale and Salerno was set at $2,500. The four men are now expected to return to court on May 4th, when their trial will commence.