Five charged in illegal gambling operation allegedly run by infamous New York crime family

Federal authorities have charged five people with operating an illegal and long-established gambling business with suspected ties to the Luchese crime family, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Wednesday. The charges were outlined in an indictment that was unsealed in Brooklyn federal court, as four defendants were arrested at their homes in New York, and another in West Palm Beach, Florida. 

In a news release, the Justice Department alleged that one person arrested in the scheme, identified as 57-year-old Anthony Villani, is a direct associate of the notorious Mafia clan that has historically played a significant part in New York's organized crime. Also charged in the scheme are James Coumoutsos, 59; Dennis Filizzola, 58; Michael Praino, 44; and Louis Tucci, Jr., 59, according to the Justice Department. Coumoutsos, Praino and Tucci were also identified by their nicknames — "Quick," "Platinum" and "Tooch," respectively.

Villani is facing racketeering charges — for illegal gambling, money laundering and attempted extortion — for his alleged connection to a fraudulent online gambling enterprise called Rhino Sports, which, authorities said, collected illegal sports bets and reaped millions in profits over the course of at least 15 years. Allegedly operated under the protection of the Luchese family, the site used web hosting servers based in Costa Rica and regularly accepted between 400 and 1,300 bets per week. It employed dozens of bookmakers to pay and collect winnings in cash, according to the Justice Department.