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Stamford Men Charged in Suspected Gambling Ring

STAMFORD, Conn. — Ten Fairfield County men are among 25 suspects — including alleged members of the Gambino crime family — facing federal charges related to a suspected illegal gambling ring and cocaine sales in Stamford and Hamden, according to statements from the U.S. attorney in Connecticut.

Eight of the men listed in the indictment are from Stamford, one is from New Canaan and one is from Norwalk.

The indictments, handed down by a federal grand jury in New Haven last month, were unsealed Wednesday after the arrest of most of the suspects.

Dean Depreta, 44, of Stamford, and Richard Uva, 43, of Trumbull, and others are accused of running three card gambling clubs in the state, the statement said. Two of the clubs were in Stamford, at 514 Glenbrook Ave. and 859 E. Main St., while the other was in Hamden, according to the indictment.

Also, three Stamford men — Frank Potolicchio, 62; Elliot Chiappetta, 60; and Robert "Bucket" Atkinson, 30 — and Scott Veltri, 32, of New York City, were charged with various federal narcotics distribution and firearms offenses in cocaine sales in and around Stamford, the statement said.

Most of the 20 charged in the alleged gambling ring are also suspected of being involved in an online sports bookmaking operation in which gamblers wagered on offshore websites, including www.44wager.com, the statement said.

Defendants also allegedly made illegal “tribute” payments to the Gambino crime family for individually run sports-gambling operations, the statement said.

All the charges for gambling and cocaine distribution are based on evidence gathered in the same operation conducted by the FBI Fairfield County Organized Crime Task Force and other law enforcement departments. 

In a related indictment, Thomas Uva III, 56, of Stamford, was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, the statement said.

The indictment in the alleged gambling operation charges all 20 defendants with at least one count of operation of an illegal gambling business, which carries a maximum prison term of five years and a fine of up to $250,000. Depreta, Richard Uva and Thomas Uva IV are charged with interstate travel in aid of racketeering, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Richard Uva, Thomas Uva IV and Craig Caffro are charged with money laundering, which carries a maximum of 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.

It also seeks the forfeiture of $1.69 million derived from the alleged racketeering activity, including $174,537 in cash that was seized April 28, 2011, during a court-authorized search of Richard Uva’s former home in Stamford.

The following people were arrested on gambling-related charges:

? Dean Depreta, 44, of Stamford, also known as The Kid, The Guy and Little Baldy;

? Douglas Corbin, 51, of Stamford, aka Chubby and Fat Doug;

? Thomas Uva IV, 30, of Stamford, aka Little T;

? Victor Amereno, 41, of Stamford;

? John Colello, 53, of Stamford;

? Michael Vitti, 32, of Stamford, aka Peewee;

? Silverio Califano, 51, of Stamford, aka Sil;

? Daniel Degruttola, 32, of Stamford, aka Dannyboy;

? Frank Potolicchio Jr., 33, of Norwalk;

? Joseph Borea, 55, of New Canaan, aka Pizza Joe;

? Richard Uva, 43, of Trumbull, aka Big Baldy;

? John Liquori, 42, of North Haven;

? Michael Pepe, 32, of North Haven;

? Domenico Manchisi, 64, of Shelton, aka Dom;

? George Norboe, 40, of Wallingford, aka Biker George;

? Craig Caffro, 47, of Pompano Beach, Fla., aka Spanky;

? Mitchell Engelson, 62, of New York, N.Y.;

? Anthony Santoro, 48, of Williamsburg, N.Y., aka Skinny;

? Salvatore Ferraioli, 31, of Staten Island, N.Y.; and

? Angelo Antolino, 32, of Port Chester, N.Y.

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