NEW CANAAN, Conn. -- A New Canaan man was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison for collecting gambling debts for a Stamford-based gambling ring run by an organized crime family, according to a statement released by Acting U.S. Attorney for Connecticut Deirdre M. Daly.
Joseph Borea, 56, of New Canaan, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release after his prison term and ordered to forfeit $75,000 and pay a $50,000 fine.
Borea along with Dean DePreta, Richard Uva and 17 other individuals were charged with various offenses related to their involvement in an illegal Internet sports bookmaking operation and illegal card gambling clubs, the statement said. As part of the conspiracy, DePreta and Uva were involved in the collection and payment of “tribute” payments to Gambino organized crime family associates in New York.
The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that DePreta operated a large-scale sports bookmaking business in which gamblers placed bets with offshore Internet sports-gambling websites, particularly www.44wager.com based in Costa Rica, according to the statement.
In addition, DePreta, Uva and others operated card gambling clubs in Stamford and Hamden where a house percentage, commonly referred to as a “rake,” was collected from every hand played. Borea collected gambling debts for DePreta and Uva, the statement said.
Borea has been released on bond since his arrest on June 13, 2012. On Aug. 7, 2013, he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Borea was sentenced in Hartford on Friday, Nov. 1.
After pleading guilty, DePreta is serving 71 months in prison and Uva is serving 46 months. To date, they are among the 18 defendants who have pleaded guilty as a result of this investigation and have agreed to forfeit $1.4 million, the statement said.
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