Luchese crime family captain sentenced to 21 months in prison for involvement in million offshore betting scheme.

A captain of the Luchese crime family has been sentenced to 21 months in federal prison for operating a multi-million dollar offshore gambling operation that shifted to online casino games during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ruling was issued by a federal judge in Brooklyn on Wednesday.

Anthony Villani, age 60, hailing from Pleasantville, has been involved in illegal gambling activities for decades, overseeing a gambling operation known as “Rhino Sports.” According to federal prosecutors, Villani accepted bets from a weekly clientele ranging between 400 to 1,300 individuals, amassing profits exceeding million since the early 2000s. Villani personally profited around million from this enterprise.

In an effort to evade law enforcement scrutiny after serving four months in prison on prior gambling charges, Villani transitioned his operations to an online platform in 2004. However, his extensive gambling operation was dismantled following a federal indictment in 2022 that implicated Villani and four accomplices in the lucrative Luchese scheme. All five individuals ultimately accepted plea deals in connection with the charges.

Prosecutors previously sought a sentence exceeding three years, emphasizing Villani’s involvement in attempted extortion. Evidence presented during the court proceedings revealed that he had threatened a bookmaker who had reportedly embezzled 0,000 from the operation as he sought to recover the funds.

In defense, Villani’s attorney advocated for leniency, portraying him as a reformed individual who has transitioned to a legitimate lifestyle, including managing juice shops and acting as the primary caregiver for his elderly mother and stepfather. The defense stressed that Villani had distanced himself from his criminal past and posed no future threat.

In addition to his prison sentence, Villani has been ordered to forfeit million. U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella remarked that Villani’s sentencing serves as a means of accountability for his extensive criminal activities on behalf of the Luchese organized crime family. He reiterated that while illegal gambling and extortion may be staples within the Mafia’s operations, incarceration is a necessary penalty for those who disregard the law.

This case underscores ongoing efforts by federal authorities to combat organized crime and illegal gambling operations, emphasizing the serious consequences of such activities.