Anthony Villani, a 61-year-old captain in the Lucchese crime family, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for operating an illegal online gambling business called Rhino Sports. He pleaded guilty to charges of racketeering, money laundering, and illegal gambling earlier this year. As part of his punishment, he must pay $4 million in forfeiture. Villani supervised the operation from 2004 to 2020, earning at least $15 million while the enterprise raked in over $35 million. He engaged in money laundering to conceal the operation's profits and threatened individuals regarding debts owed to the gambling business.
"Today's sentence holds Villani accountable for racketeering crimes committed on behalf of the Lucchese organized crime family, while lining the enterprise's coffers and his own pockets with millions of dollars."
"Illegal gambling and extortion may be commonplace for the Mafia, but a prison term is a bitter outcome for mobsters who show no regard for the law."
"Villani supervised an offshore online gambling enterprise called Rhino Sports from about 2004 to 2020, employing several other men - members of the La Cosa Nostra crime families - as 'bookmakers.'"
"Villani himself took home at least $15 million by running an illegal gambling operation that earned at least $35 million over the years."
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