United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

PAWCATUCK MAN SENTENCED IN STAMFORD BOOKMAKING CONSPIRACY

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ELLIOTT CHIAPPETTA, age 52, of Courtland Street, Pawcatuck, Connecticut, was sentenced today in federal court in New Haven to five months of imprisonment for conspiring to operate an illegal sports gambling business. Senior United States District Judge Ellen Bree Burns also ordered that, following CHIAPPETTA's release from prison, he serve a three-year term of supervised release, the first five months of which will be spent in home detention with electronic monitoring to be paid for by CHIAPPETTA. Judge Burns also ordered CHIAPPETTA to pay a fine in the amount of $2,000, and ordered that CHIAPPETTA participate in mental health counseling for his gambling addiction.

On December 4, 2003, CHIAPPETTA pleaded guilty to Count 1 of an indictment that charged him and four others with conspiracy to operate an illegal sports gambling business in Stamford. CHIAPPETTA admitted that he rented an apartment at 20 Depinedo Avenue in Stamford that was used as the bookmaking office during the 2000-01 football season. CHIAPPETTA also admitted that he worked in the bookmaking office during the 2000–01 football season, accepting sports wagers from bettors, and giving out betting odds (line information). CHIAPPETTA admitted that losing bettors paid a 10 percent commission on the total value of the lost wagers (for example, a $100 losing bet paid $110). CHIAPPETTA admitted that between January 6, 2001, and January 14, 2001, the bookmaking business accepted over $400,000 in sports bets from over 100 individuals. CHIAPPETTA also admitted that he was paid by the bookmaking business for his work in staffing its office.

"The federal government is committed to disrupting illegal gambling rings whenever and wherever they occur," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated.

United States Attorney O'Connor stated that this case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Stamford Police Department has assisted in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan Biran and the Organized Crime Strike Force Unit of the United States Attorney's Office.

CONTACT:

U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
Tom Carson
(203) 821-3722
thomas.carson@usdoj.gov