United States Attorney's Office District of Connecticut
Press Release

NEW HAVEN MAN SENTENCED FOR GAMBLING AND OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE OFFENSES

Kevin J. O’Connor, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that MICHAEL JOSEPH LAMBERTI, SR., age 43, of 297 North High Street, East Haven, was sentenced today by Senior United States District Judge Alan H. Nevas in Bridgeport for conspiring to engage in an organized crime-controlled sports bookmaking business and obstructing a federal grand jury’s investigation. Judge Nevas sentenced LAMBERTI to 60 days in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. During his period of supervised release, LAMBERTI is to perform 300 hours of community service, receive mental health treatment, not gamble or enter any gambling facility, and not associate with anyone involved in illegal gambling.

LAMBERTI faced a Sentencing Guideline range of 15 to 21 months’ imprisonment for the offenses. Judge Nevas departed from the recommended Guideline range, finding LAMBERTI’s mental condition and his wife’ health condition extraordinary. Judge Nevas also cited LAMBERTI’s work in the community as a basis for departing from the Guidelines. In balancing its compassion, the Court explained that LAMBERTI must be punished for trying to deceive the grand jury, agents, and the prosecutor by submitting false records to the grand jury about his employment.

LAMBERTI’s conviction stems from a joint federal, state and local prosecution of illegal gambling businesses in Connecticut. In March 2004, LAMBERTI pleaded guilty, admitting that he participated in the illegal sports bookmaking business and obstructed the grand jury that was investigating his and others’ activities. As disclosed during the sentencing and earlier court proceedings, 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. LAMBERTI was associated with Anthony J. Ascenzia, Jr., a New England Family member, and his bookmaking office called wagers into Ascenzia’s operation. The evidence showed that, during a four-month period, the 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. The gambling business violated various state laws prohibiting gambling.

In addition to this conviction, the following 18 people have been convicted of federal offenses as part of the investigation: Anthony J. Ascenzia Jr., Alphonse Amendola, Carl Apuzzo, Charles Cerreta, Thomas Coppola, James Cretella, Steven Datillo, Kevin Dolan, Mariano Grasso, Ralph Iannuzzi, Angelo Lucifora, Biagio Martinelli, Benedetto Minichino, Anthony M. Natalizio, Anthony Notarino, Nicholas B. Onofrio Jr., John Joseph Vitello, and John Zullo.

“This Office and our law enforcement partners are committed to disrupting illegal gambling rings and all forms of organized criminal activity, wherever they exist, as well as prosecuting those who seek to obstruct and impede the grand jury’s efforts to investigate criminal activity,” U.S. Attorney O'Connor stated.

In commending 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 for their significant work on this investigation, U.S. Attorney O’Connor stated, “the success of this joint law enforcement investigation of the New England LCN Family once again exemplifies the benefits achieved from a coordinated law enforcement effort.”

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