Two Men Sentenced For Running Illegal Sports Betting Operation In New York
The bookmaking bust began with an undercover officer gathering intel at a card game
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As revealed in a release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, an investigation led by Homeland Security, the Internal Revenue Service, and other agencies has resulted in the sentencing of two Rochester, New York men for their roles in conducting an illegal sports betting ring from April 2019 through April 2021.
Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford sentenced Louis P. Ferrari II, 42, and Dominic Sprague, 40, to three years’ probation, which also includes 10 months of home detention. In addition to their probation, Ferrari was ordered to forfeit $150,000 in gambling proceeds, while Sprague gave up $92,000.
The duo was found guilty of financing and managing the illicit operation, which generated approximately $2,000 in gross revenue per day.
Their activities included creating accounts and placing, editing, and removing bets on the sports betting and tracking website sport700.com. They had the assistance of Anthony Amato, who created accounts for co-conspirators, including Joseph Lombardo, Tomasso Sessa, James Civiletti, Jeffrey Boscarino, and others. The group communicated via calls and text messages to place, modify, and cancel bets.
More on the investigation
The investigation into this operation began in September 2020 when an undercover officer attended a card game, and Ferrari informed the officer about the website.
In April 2021, investigators interrupted an illegal card game and seized cell phones belonging to Ferrari and Sprague, containing evidence of sports bookmaking. By February 2023, federal prosecutors had announced charges against seven individuals involved in the operation.
The investigation was a collaborative effort involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the New York State Police, the Greece Police Department, and the Rochester Police Department.
The crackdown continues
This latest sentencing comes amid a broader, nationwide crackdown on illegal gambling operations. Just last week, authorities in Connecticut and Mississippi made strides. In Connecticut, two men were charged after police discovered illegal machines and drugs at a liquor store, while in Mississippi, law enforcement seized illegal gambling devices at a convenience store, resulting in another arrest.
About a week earlier, the Florida Gaming Control Commission shut down 11 illegal casinos in Volusia County and arrested three people for running an illegal gambling house.
Gambling operations that are not licensed and regulated by their relevant state authority, such as the New York State Gaming Commission, Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, or the Mississippi Gaming Commission, are deemed illegal.
