Genovese Crime Family Member Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Racketeering
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Crime
Genovese Crime Family Member Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Racketeering
Carmelo Polito, also known as “Carmine Polito,” a former acting captain and soldier in the Genovese organized crime family, was sentenced to 30 months in prison by United States District Judge Eric N. Vitaliano for racketeering in connection with operating an illegal gambling business at the Gran Caffé in Lynbrook, Long Island, and attempting to extort an individual who owed him money stemming from a separate online sports betting business.
Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI) and Anne T. Donnelly, Nassau County District Attorney, announced the sentence.
“Today’s sentence makes clear to the defendant that the outcome for participating in illegal gambling and making extortionate threats is the loss of something very valuable — your freedom,” stated United States Attorney Peace. “Thanks to the outstanding work of prosecutors in my Office and law enforcement, the alliance of the Genovese and Bonanno organized crime families’ rackets was a bust.”
Mr. Peace expressed his appreciation to the New York City Police Department and the Nassau County Police Department for their invaluable assistance in the investigation.
“The cards did not favor Carmelo Polito's illicit gambling parlor or his extortionate methods,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Dennehy. “His illegitimate business and death threats financed the operations of two crime families. May today’s sentencing reaffirm the FBI’s commitment to doubling down on all organized crime activity plaguing our communities.
“This defendant, along with other associates of the Genovese family, operated illegal gambling businesses in Nassau County that funneled money straight into organized crime,” stated District Attorney Donnelly. “Extortion, threats, and violence have no place in Nassau County. I thank our partners at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI for their collaboration in dismantling this illicit operation and working to rid organized crime from our communities.”
Polito is a longtime, inducted member of the Genovese organized crime family. As detailed in earlier court filings, for years, numerous members and associates of the Genovese and Bonanno organized crime families operated several illegal gambling operations in the Eastern District of New York. Beginning in at least May 2012, the Genovese and Bonanno families jointly operated a lucrative illegal gambling parlor concealed inside a coffee shop called the Gran Caffé in Lynbrook. Polito and co-defendant Joseph Macario, also known as “Joe Fish,” on behalf of the Genovese crime family, and Anthony Pipitone, also known as “Little Anthony,” on behalf of Bonanno crime family, successfully negotiated a profit split for the gambling location, which ensured that each crime family benefited from the illegal gambling operation. In addition to the Gran Caffé, the Genovese crime family—through Polito, Macario, Joseph Rutigliano, also known as “Joe Box,” Salvatore Rubino, also known as “Sal the Shoemaker,” and others—operated illegal gambling parlors at establishments called Sal’s Shoe Repair and the Centro Calcio Italiano Club. Rutigliano and Rubino collected the proceeds for the Genovese crime family and distributed them up to higher ranking members, including Polito and Macario. Polito was surveilled distributing proceeds to higher ranking members on numerous occasions.
Polito and co-defendant Mark Feuer also operated an illegal online gambling scheme in which bets were placed on sporting events through a website called “PGWLines.” In connection with his operation of PGWLines, Polito attempted to extort an individual who lost several thousand dollars in bets using death threats and other threats of violence. For example, during a September 2019 call concerning the debtor, Polito instructed another individual to tell the debtor that Polito would “break” the debtor’s “face.” When the debtor still did not pay Polito, Polito instructed the same individual to relay a new message to the debtor: “Tell him I’m going to put him under the f------g bridge.”
Polito is the first defendant sentenced in this case and a related case against four members and associates of the Bonanno organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra. Macario, Rutigliano, Rubino and Feuer are awaiting sentencing.
The government’s case is being handled by the Office’s Organized Crime and Gangs Section. Assistant United States Attorneys Tanya Hajjar, Drew Rolle, Anna Karamigios and Sean M. Sherman are in charge of the prosecution, with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Eleanor Jaffe-Pachuilo.
The Defendants:
CARMELO POLITO (also known as “Carmine Polito”)
Age: 64
Whitestone, Queens
Defendants Awaiting Sentencing:
JOSEPH MACARIO (also known as “Joe Fish”)
Age: 69
West Islip, Long Island
SALVATORE RUBINO (“Sal the Shoemaker”)
Age: 60
Bethpage, Long Island
JOSEPH RUTIGLIANO (also known as “Joe Box”)
Age: 65
Commack, Long Island
MARK FEUER
Age: 61
Oceanside, Long Island
E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 22-CR-356 (ENV)
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Figures on underage gambling cases were not immediately available Thursday. But numerous people involved in gambling treatment and recovery say a growing number of young people are becoming involved in gambling, particularly sports betting as the activity spreads around the country.
The bill was approved by an Assembly committee and now goes to the full Assembly for a vote. It must pass both houses of the Legislature before going to the desk of the state’s Democratic governor, Phil Murphy.
The council said recently that it conditionally supports the bill but has concerns about it.
Luis Del Orbe, the council’s acting executive director, said he is glad it will provide funding for gambling treatment and education programs. But he said fines alone are not enough without mandating education about problem gambling. He asked that such a requirement be added to the bill.
“When a young person is ‘fined,’ who actually pays the fine?” he asked.
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In a statement submitted to the Assembly panel, the council said, “More and more of New Jersey citizens need help due to the ongoing expansion of gambling opportunities, and it is anticipated that the demand will only continue to grow. There is also an urgent need for expanded education and awareness about the harms that can come of gambling, particularly with respect to youth.”
- Wayne Parry (Associated Press)
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The complaint was filed by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody's office. More than a dozen people are named in the complaint, but six people are considered 'high-level members' of the operation.
According to the filing, Robin Rukab Azzam is an owner of the enterprise and is also referred to as the 'boss.' Her husband, George Azzam, helps run the establishments. Ryan Strickland and Derek Fleming provide illegal gambling machines and software. Majd Dabbas manufactures some of the machines and Jerry Bass helps launder the money. Willbert Bannister was also named as a defendant and acts as a courier for the group.
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