Gaming raids net 15 allegedly tied to mob
SCITUATE, R.I. -- Fifteen people were arrested on charges including racketeering and gambling in an alleged sports betting operation that authorities said yesterday reached the highest levels of organized crime in Rhode Island.
Among those arrested in raids throughout the state Monday was Joseph Achille, 69, who authorities said managed the operation and is a ''capo," or leader, of the Patriarca crime family.
The group took more than $500,000 in bets during the three months leading up to the Super Bowl, mostly on college and pro football games, according to police and the attorney general's office.
Police said Achille, of Providence, supervised the operation, which ran out of the bar JJ Coliseum in Johnston. Donald Capasso, 47, of Johnston, who owns the building where JJ Coliseum is located, allegedly ran the operation.
State Police Major Steven O'Donnell said the betting ring preyed on ordinary citizens and used fear and violence to collect its debts. He said one gambler took out a second mortgage on his home to pay off an $80,000 debt.
The state police, the FBI, and Providence police conducted the six-month investigation and raided nine locations Monday. Authorities said they waited until the day after the Super Bowl to conduct the raid, knowing that proceeds from the bets would be coming in and that the operation would go into a lull after football season ended.
Authorities seized more than $144,000 in cash, three cars, firearms, bookmaking ledgers, boxes of fireworks, and gambling equipment, including a video slot machine seized from the basement of Achille's home, police said.
Those charged with organized criminal gambling, conspiracy to commit organized criminal gambling and bookmaking were: Achille; Capasso; Robert Cucinotta, 37, of Johnston; Steven Verdecchia, 49, of Cranston; Frank Pirri, 47, of Johnston; Walter Wierzbicki, 51, of North Providence; James Cotoia, 29, of Johnston; Jamie Scheer, 33, of Cranston; John Macarthur, 60, of Johnston; Robert Graziano, 46, of Providence; Michael Russo, 39, of Johnston; Robert Passeratta, 39, of Johnston; and Michael Mastrati, 66, of Cranston.
In addition to those charges, Cotoia and Verdecchia face drug charges.
David Achille, 37, of Providence, was charged with conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon. Sandra Verdecchia, 51, of Cranston, was charged with conspiracy to commit organized criminal gambling.
Bail was set at $25,000 for Joseph Achille and $15,000 for Capasso.
