Trumbull Man Charged with Gambino-related Money Laundering, Racketeering, Gambling

A Trumbull man allegedly laundered money for the Gambino Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra and engaged in racketeering and illegal gambling.

Richard "Big Baldy" Uva, 43, faces charges in a 10-count indictment by a Grand Jury in New Haven Federal Court.

"The indictment alleges that the Gambino Crime Family of La Cosa Nostra is headquartered in New York City and has operated in Fairfield County, Conn., since at least the early 1980s under the direction of different members or associates who reported to members of the crime family in New York.  Dean Depreta, Richard Uva, Thomas Uva IV, Douglas Corbin and Joseph Borea were Stamford-based associates of the Gambino Crime Family," according to a press release.

"All of the defendants, with the exception of Norboe, were involved in a large-scale sports bookmaking operation in which gamblers placed bets with offshore Internet sports-gambling websites, particularly www.44wager.com based in Costa Rica. The defendants collected and disbursed funds to and from bettors locally, and transferred a portion of the proceeds to Depreta and Richard Uva. [The two] and others then sent payments in the form of Western Union money orders to CAFFRO in Florida for using www.44wager.com," said Tom Carson of the U.S. Justice Department.

"Depreta, Richard Uva and others operated three illegal card gambling clubs in Connecticut.  Depreta, Richard  Uva, Thomas Uva IV, and Corbin conducted card games at 514 Glenbrook Road in Stamford; Depreta, Richard Uva and Califano conducted card games at 859 East Main St. in Stamford, and Depreta Richard Uva, Liquori, Pepe and Norboe conducted card games at 2965 State St. in Hamden.  A portion of the profits from these clubs was transferred to Depreta and Richard Uva," Carson said.

Depreta, Richard Uva, Thomas Uva IV, Corbin and Borea are charged with conspiring to violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), a charge that carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, Carson said.

"The indictment also charges all 20 defendants with at least one count of operation of an illegal gambling business, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000, on each count," according to Carson.

Uva is further charged with interstate travel in aid of Racketeering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000, on each count, and money laundering, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $500,000, Carson said.

"As to Depreta, Richard Uva, Thomas Uva IV, Corbin and Borea, the indictment seeks the forfeiture of approximately $1.69 million derived from their alleged racketeering activity, including $174,537 in cash that was seized on April 28, 2011, during a court-authorized search of Richard Uva's former residence in Stamford," Carson concluded.

The suspects are:

• DEAN DEPRETA, a.k.a. “The Kid,” “The Guy,” and “Little Baldy,” 44, of Stamford,
• RICHARD UVA, a.k.a. “Big Baldy,” 43, of Trumbull,
• THOMAS UVA IV, a.k.a. “Little T,” 30, of Stamford,
• DOUGLAS CORBIN, a.k.a. “Chubby,” and “Fat Doug,” 51, of Stamford,
• JOSEPH BOREA, a.k.a. “Pizza Joe,” 55, of New Canaan,
• MICHAEL VITTI, a.k.a. “Peewee,” 32, of Stamford,
• SILVERIO CALIFANO, a.k.a. “Sil,” 51, of Stamford,
• JOHN LIQUORI, 42, of North Haven,
• MICHAEL PEPE, 32, of North Haven,
• DOMENICO MANCHISI, a.k.a. “Dom,” 64, of Shelton,
• GEORGE NORBOE, a.k.a. “Biker George,” 40, of Wallingford,
• CRAIG CAFFRO, a.k.a. “Spanky,” 47, of Pompano Beach, Fla.,
• DANIEL DEGRUTTOLA, a.k.a. “Dannyboy,” 32, of Stamford,
• FRANK POTOLICCHIO, JR., 33, of Norwalk,
• VICTOR AMERENO, 41 of Stamford,
• JOHN COLELLO, 53, of Stamford,
• MITCHELL ENGELSON, 62, of New York, N.Y.,
• ANTHONY SANTORO, a.k.a. “Skinny,” 48, of Williamsburg, N.Y.,
• SALVATORE FERRAIOLI, 31 of Staten Island, N.Y., and
• ANGELO ANTOLINO, 32, of Port Chester, N.Y.

Carson stressed that the allegations must be proven in court.

The matter is being investigated by the FBI Fairfield County Organized Crime Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation, the Stamford Police Department, the Bridgeport Police Department and the Connecticut State Police.  The Monroe, New Canaan, Shelton and Trumbull Police Departments assisted with the arrests of the defendants.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Hal Chen and Peter Jongbloed.