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U.S. citizen pleads guilty to money laundering and operating illegal gambling business in Costa Rica



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Published on Tuesday, February 4, 2025
By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services





A U.S. citizen surnamed Villani (60) from Elmsford New York,  pleaded guilty to multiple crimes, including racketeering, money laundering and illegal gambling from Costa Rica and the U.S.


According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York, the proceedings were held before District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto. 


As detailed in the indictment and court filings, for over 25 years, Villani has been involved in significant gambling operations, principally based in the Bronx and Westchester, New York, that were affiliated with multiple organized crime families. 


Villani owned and operated the gambling business since at least 2004.  The business was hosted using servers in Costa Rica and employed Costa Rica's local bookmakers to pay and collect winnings.


As part of the scheme, Villani employed trusted individuals, including defendants, surnamed Tucci (61) and Filizzola (61), to assist in operating the business and collecting at least $1 million annually. 


Records obtained from the gambling business’s website indicated that Villani’s illegal gambling operation regularly took bets from between 400 and 1,300 bettors each week, most of whom were based in New York City and the metropolitan area.


At Villani’s direction, Filizzola took proceeds from the gambling business and used them to purchase U.S. Postal Service money orders in false names, which were then made payable to one of Villani’s property companies to appear as legitimate rental payments.  


As part of Villani’s plea agreement, he will pay $4 million in forfeiture.  His co-defendants have agreed to pay an additional approximately $1 million in forfeiture. 





 



Villani and his co-defendants operated a large-scale, illegal online gambling business that operated since the early 2000s and brought millions in illicit profits annually.  


John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York and James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the guilty pleas.


“These guilty pleas represent a victory for the rule of law over the pernicious activities of organized crime that undermine the safety of our communities,” stated United States Attorney Durham.  “Illegal gambling businesses require enforcement and protection from mob rivals that carry the persistent threat of violence.  However, the defendants’ luck ran out and, thanks to the hard work of the team of prosecutors and investigators, they will be held accountable for their crimes and pay their debt to society.”


FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy stated: “Our investigations involving members of the Five Families don't make the same headlines as they have historically. However, the men pleading guilty in this case illustrate how entrenched the traditional mafia are in their noxious and familiar criminality. They are less flashy these days - and a lot of that is due to the incredible cunning and tenacity agents and investigators on our FBI New York Westchester Organized Crime Task Force use to pursue members of these organizations.”


When sentenced, Villani faces up to 20 years in prison. Tucci pleaded guilty on January 27, 2025, to illegal sports betting and faces up to five years in prison.  Filizzola pleaded guilty on January 21, 2025, to illegal sports betting and money laundering and faces up to five years in prison and up to 20 years in prison on those counts respectively. 


The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section.  Assistant United States Attorney Antoinette N. Rangel is in charge of the prosecution.  Assistant United States Attorney Claire S. Kedeshian of the Office’s Asset Recovery Section is handling forfeiture matters.



 

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What have you heard about illegal gambling operations in Costa Rica? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com



  


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