Stamford Man Sentenced To 6 Months For Involvement In Gambling Ring

STAMFORD, Conn. -- A Stamford man has been sentenced to six months in prison for his involvement in an organized crime gambling ring, according to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.

A Stamford man was sentenced to six months in prison for his connection to an organized crime gambling ring.
Photo Credit: *Anthony Buzzeo/File*

Joe Jenkins

10/25/2013 3:30 p.m.

Victor Amereno, 43, and his associate, Richard Uva were charged with various offenses related to their involvement in an illegal Internet sports bookmaking operation and illegal card gambling clubs in Stamford and Hamden. Uva, a Trumbull resident, was sentenced to 46 months in prison, according to the statement.

Amereno pleaded guilty on April 1 to one count of operating an illegal gambling business. He was forced to forfeit $15,000 as part of his sentencing, the statement said.

The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Uva assisted Dean DePreta’s operation of 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. Both Uva and DePreta are alleged associates of the Gambino organized crime family, according to the statement.

FBI analysis of the sports-betting web site utilized by the co-defendants has determined that the total gross revenues of the Stamford-based gambling operation were nearly $1.7 million from October 2010 to June 2011, the statement said.

To date, 18 defendants who have pleaded guilty have agreed to forfeit approximately $1.4 million, according to the statement.

Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.