By Alex Davidson
The son of a Gambino crime family captain from Howard Beach and his associate were formally sentenced to prison terms Monday for their parts in a gambling scheme that netted $30 million a year, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
Alphonse Trucchio, son of reputed Gambino soldier Ronald Trucchio, and Anthony Moscatiello pleaded guilty in April 2003 to enterprise corruption as part of a deal. On Monday, Trucchio received a sentence of 1 1/2 to 4 1/2 years in prison, while Moscatiello received a sentence of one to three years in prison, the DA said.
“The defendants lost their gamble that they could operate an illegal sports betting ring in Queens County and now must pay for their crimes by serving time in prison,” Brown said.
Brown said his office's investigation determined that the ring was accepting more than $600,000 a week in illegal wagers on college and professional basketball, football and professional baseball and hockey. He said the scheme, run out of two Ozone Park homes, handled proceeds of more than $30 million per year.
Brown said the Trucchios' organization operated out of two separate wirerooms in a third-floor apartment at 89-07 North Conduit Ave. and in the basement of an attached, one-family house at 149-29 122nd St. – both in Ozone Park. He said the operation involved “runners” on the street taking bets on college and professional basketball, football, baseball and hockey and then communicating them through various channels to the wire room.
The DA said Ronald Trucchio was the operation's leader and controlled all aspects of the illegal operation, while his 25-year-old son Alphonse kept track of the various accounts.
Anthony Moscatiello, 32, of 106-65 97th St. in Ozone Park, is believed to have organized the operation's day-to-day business, including maintaining accounts and providing updates to the two Trucchios, Brown said.
Brown said his office began an investigation of the Trucchios in April 2002 that led to their arrest in December. He said police discovered that the largest wager placed by bettors during their investigation was a $15,000 bet Nov. 10 on a football game.
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 156
