Father and Son Plead Guilty in Illegal Gambling Ring in PA
Robert "Bobby I" Iannelli and his son Robert "Rusty" Iannelli have entered into a plea deal after pleading guilty for operating an illicit gambling operation in Pennsylvania. They were sentenced to 10 years probation and also paid a fine of $225,000.
The father-son founders were convicted earlier this week, after pleading guilty for operating an illicit gambling operation in Western Pennsylvania. On September 16, after signing guilty pleas, the 90-year-old Robert "Bobby I" Iannelli and his 60-year-old son Robert "Rusty" Iannelli were both sentenced to 10 year probation.
Judge Meagan Bilik-DeFazio ordered the two men to pay as well $225,000 each as a restitution fee from the funds they received from illicit gambling activities. An extra $75,000 would now be charged during the trial that concluded in April 2017 for the five wiretaps of the state prosecutor. Judge Bilik-DeFazio explained that the probation period for both offenders will be ended after the payments imposed by the court are made.
The latest sentences settle allegations that the Iannelli family ran sports betting company back in 1994. Both the father and son involved in the activities pleaded guilty in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties for conducting fraudulent lotteries, and a crooked company.
Iannelli's Past Inquiries According to Investigators
Robert Iannelli was investigated for his role in multimillion dollar illicit sports betting activities related to gaming back in the 1950s as well as in the 1970s. Looking back at 1990, Iannelli was listed in the Pennsylvania Crime Commission study as an member of the former LaRocca-Genovese organized crime organization in Pittsburgh.
Robert Iannelli was in a wheelchair when he appeared in court on Wednesday this week and even used an oxygen tube to assist his breathing. Duke George, who is Iannelli's defense counsel, said his client is suffering from a heart disease and is now living in Pittsburgh and Florida.
Sentences for more representatives of the deputy Attorney General of the gambling ring Mark Serge commented by saying: "They're in the gambling business. It's bookmaking and lotteries. He also found the project to be "substantial." Looking back at 2015, a grand jury probe was initiated by the State Attorney General's office, accusing the Iannelli family along with 11 other criminal conduct suspects.
Two other men involved in the gaming ring pleaded guilty with the Iannelli family. The 76-year-old Frank Joseph Pasquino, along with the 71-year-old Victor Machitello, pleaded guilty in the six months before April 2017 for taking part in fraudulent lotteries.
Another casino ring founder pled guilty earlier this week. John Harkins, 70, on Wednesday pled guilty to one misdemeanor count of conspiracy for his role in the alleged gambling operations. The court charged him with $1,000, as well as a restitution of about $5,500 that the police confiscated following his capture.
