United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW HAVEN MAN CHARGED WITH CONTEMPT OF COURT IS SENTENCED

Kevin J. O'Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN JOSEPH VITELLO, age 57, of 260 Humphrey Street, New Haven, Connecticut, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Peter C. Dorsey following his conviction for a contempt of court charge relating to a joint federal, state, and local prosecution of illegal gambling businesses in Connecticut. Judge Dorsey ordered VITELLO to pay a fine of $7500. VITELLO pleaded guilty on March 16, 2004.

According to statements made in Court during previous proceedings, a federal grand jury had subpoenaed VITELLO to appear before it on November 14, 2000, and provide testimony about sports bookmaking. VITELLO, who had been given immunity from prosecution based on his testimony before the grand jury, refused to testify. At a hearing before the Court on November 14, 2000, the Court had advised VITELLO that the law required him to testify before the grand jury or risk being held in civil contempt and incarcerated until he testified as ordered. The Court further advised VITELLO about the possible future consequences of being charged with criminal contempt. VITELLO told the Court that he would not testify and would refuse to testify if he were to appear before the grand jury. VITELLO provided no valid reason for not complying with the Court's order to testify. At the Government's request, the Court ordered that VITELLO be held in civil contempt and incarcerated based on his failure to comply with the Court's order directing him to testify before the grand jury.

VITELLO remained incarcerated for nearly seven months without testifying before the grand jury and purging himself of civil contempt. The Court, based on the Government's motion, vacated its contempt order on June 1, 2001, and ordered VITELLO's release from custody.

"It is vitally important that all of us meet our responsibilities as citizens when we are called to testify before the grand jury," U. S. Attorney O'Connor stated. "The public has a right to every person's evidence and the duty to testify is necessary to the proper administration of justice. This is particularly important when the grand jury is investigating organized criminal activity. Those who choose not to testify when ordered by the Court to do so not only face being held in civil contempt, but will be prosecuted by this Office."

In addition to this conviction, the following 16 people have been convicted of federal offenses as part of the investigation: Alphonse Amendola, Carl Apuzzo, Anthony Ascenzia, Jr., 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., and John Zullo.

U.S. Attorney O'Connor explained that the guilty pleas are the result of a joint investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation, the Statewide Organized Crime Investigation Task Force of the Connecticut State Police, and the New Haven Police Department. The 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