Bail Dropped for Genovese Crime Family Associate Tied to Sports Betting Ring
A Superior Court judge has lowered bail From $400,000 to $300,000 for a reputed associate of the Genovese crime family accused of running a multi-state multi-million dollar sports betting operation that utilized wire room in Costa Rica.
Vincent Coppola, 37, of Union, the son of jailed Genovese capo Michael Coppola, was among 11 individuals charged. Arrests were made in New York, New Jersey and Florida.
Coppola arrived at court in a wheel chair Wednesday. He spent six weeks in the hospital for an undisclosed ailment.
Coppola also said, "I can't afford any attorney" and wants to be represented by a public defender.
"I have a 13-year-old autistic son, and he really needs my help.”
Rockland County, NY District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe also seized $3 million from the business, which is alleged to have taken in millions of dollars per month.
The ring operated from Bergen County NJ, New York City and Palm Beach. 60 court ordered search warrants were issued as part of the investigation.
“Such unlawfully earned profits are commonly diverted to more insidious criminal enterprises,” Zugibe said. “In fact, the investigation uncovered evidence that the enterprise had links to organized crime.”
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
