United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW HAVEN MAN PLEADS GUILTY TO RACKETEERING AND TAX OFFENSES

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that ANTHONY JOHN ASCENZIA JR, age 45, of 83 Irvington Street, New Haven, Connecticut, pleaded guilty today to federal racketeering and tax charges. The charges stem from a joint federal, state, and local investigation of organized crime's control of illegal gambling businesses in Connecticut. ASCENZIA's plea of guilty was accepted by United States Magistrate Judge Holly B. Fitzsimmons in Bridgeport.

The prosecutor explained to the Court that the New England Family of La Cosa Nostra operated multiple illegal gambling businesses in Connecticut. Federal investigators working with state and local law enforcement conducted court-authorized electronic surveillance from late 1999 to early 2000 as part of an investigation of members and associates of the New England Family, which is also called the Patriarca Family. ASCENZIA is a New England Family member. The FBI intercepted conversations of ASCENZIA and others as they ran the illegal gambling businesses. The evidence showed that, during a four-month period, ASCENZIA's New Haven based sports bookmaking business accepted more than $2,300,000 in illegal wagers on sporting events like football, baseball, and basketball. Investigators determined that the sports bookmaking business operated year-round from at least 1997 to March 2000, accepting wagers on other sporting events and accepting layoff wagers from other bookmakers.

In addition to the sports bookmaking business, law enforcement officers also intercepted calls and gathered evidence of the operation of other illegal gambling businesses, including a street numbers business that operated from at least January 1997 to March 2000. The street numbers business accepted bets from people wishing to wager money on three and four digit numbers determined by races in New York or the Connecticut lottery. The gambling businesses violated various state laws prohibiting gambling.

The prosecutor also explained that between 1997 and 2000, law enforcement officers conducted gambling related search warrants. The federal and state warrants were executed at various locations in New Haven, including at Ascenzia's residence and the adjoining rental unit, Ascenzia's 1993 Saturn, and an apartment and attic at the St. Andrew's Society at 515 Chapel Street, 17 Austin Street, 11 Morse Place, and 72 Ashland Place, as well as other area locations like 111 Hemingway Avenue, Apartment L, East Haven, 299 Main Street, East Haven, 7 Soundview Drive, Woodbridge, and 67 Admiral Street, West Haven.

In addition, ASCENZIA pleaded guilty to filing a false 1999 federal income tax return. The prosecutor explained that ASCENZIA filed the tax return under the penalties of perjury knowing it was false in two material respects. First, he reported that his 1999 taxable income was $23,239 when, in fact, it was approximately $194,125. Second, he reported on his Schedule C that his business was the "Sale of Sundries," when in fact his Schedule C income was from gambling businesses and the sale of cable descramblers. ASCENZIA owes additional federal income taxes of $58,234 for 1999 and has agreed to pay the Internal Revenue Service the taxes, plus penalties, and interest for 1999.

During today's plea proceeding, ASCENZIA told the Court that he had conspired to participate in a racketeering enterprise that conducted a sports bookmaking business and numbers business. He also admitted to filing a false federal income tax return for 1999.

ASCENZIA faces a maximum penalty of 23 years' imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and a three-year period of court-supervised release on the racketeering and tax offenses. Also, the Government is forfeiting $103,500 in U.S. currency seized from a residence that ASCENZIA owned as well as $36,625 in property or proceeds from the racketeering activity. Senior United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas will sentence ASCENZIA on July 22, 2004. The defendant was released on bail pending sentencing.

In addition to this conviction, the following 16 people have been convicted of federal offenses as part of the investigation: Alphonse Amendola, Carl Apuzzo, Charles Cerreta, Thomas Coppola, James Cretella, Steven Datillo, Kevin Dolan, Ralph Iannuzzi, Angelo Lucifora, Biagio Martinelli, Benedetto Minichino, Anthony M. Natalizio, Anthony Notarino, Nicholas B. Onofrio Jr., John Joseph Vitello, and John Zullo.

"This conviction, and the numerous prior convictions related to this case, clearly shows how a coordinated law enforcement effort can attack the problem of organized crime," U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "I commend the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, the Statewide Organized Crime Investigation Task Force of the Connecticut State Police, and the New Haven Police Department for their significant work on this New England LCN Family investigation."

U.S. Attorney O'Connor added that the investigation is continuing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Peter S. Jongbloed.

CONTACT:

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