Arrests of 24 Suspects Conclude Six Month Wiretap Investigation
Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and Lieutenant Colonel Raymond White, Acting Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, announced the arrests of 24 individuals resulting from a long term investigation into illegal gambling and related criminal activities.
During the fall of 2010, members of the Rhode Island State Police Intelligence Unit initiated an investigation of an organized criminal gambling operation allegedly being conducted by Vincent R. Tallo, age 49, of 12 Poppy Hill Drive, Johnston, Rhode Island. In November of 2010, former Attorney General Patrick Lynch obtained approval for a court authorized wire intercept from the Honorable Alice B. Gibney, Presiding Justice of the Superior Court, allowing members of the State Police to intercept communications over Tallo’s cellular telephone. As a result of information developed during that wiretap, Detectives believed that Tallo was conducting an organized criminal gambling operation by accepting illegal sports wagers on various professional and college sporting events. In addition, the investigation disclosed that Tallo was allegedly illegally purchasing and selling prescription narcotics from his residence.
As the investigation progressed, various accomplices involved in Vincent Tallo’s alleged criminal operation were identified including “made members” of the New England Organized Crime family. Three of these individuals were identified as Edward Lato, age 65, of 277 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI; and Frank “Bobo” Marrapese, Jr., age 68, of 104 Elwyn Street, Cranston, RI, and Alfred “Chippy” Scivola, age 69, of 104 Brown Avenue, Johnston, RI, who are all long standing members of the Patriarca Organized Crime family. Marrapese is currently on parole from a life sentence for the 1987 murder of Richard “Dickie” Callie. He was released from prison in 2008.
The State Police and Attorney General Kilmartin obtained further court authorization to monitor and record conversations over Marrapese’s cellular telephone, resulting in evidence of additional criminal activity, including extortion and criminal usury. It is alleged that Marrapese used his standing as a “made” member of the Patriarca Crime Family to assist/participate and direct other co-conspirators to carry out various criminal acts to include extortion.
Members of the Rhode Island State Police know Edward C. Lato to be a high ranking member of the Rhode Island faction of the New England Organized Crime Family. It is alleged that proceeds of these activities were funneled to Edward C. Lato via intermediaries.
Investigation further identified Alfred Maiello, age 49, of 33 ½ Marne Street in Johnston RI, as allegedly engaging in organized criminal gambling. A court authorized wire intercept was obtained to monitor and record conversations over Maiello’s cellular telephone. During the course of this aspect of the investigation, detectives documented nearly $400,000 in bookmaking activities.
Early this morning, members of the State Police with the assistance of various local police departments including Warwick, Cranston, Providence, Johnston, North Providence, Pawtucket, Glocester, and Smithfield executed twenty-three arrest warrants and three search warrants related to this investigation. The following individuals were subsequently arrested and charged:
Frank L. Marrapese Jr, age 68, of 104 Elwyn Street, Cranston, RI -Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) -Conspiracy to Commit Extortion (6 counts) -Usury -Parole Violation
Edward C. Lato, age 65, of 277 Atwells Avenue, Providence, RI -Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO)
Alfred Scivola, age 69, of 104 Brown Avenue, Johnston, RI -Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) -Conspiracy to Commit Extortion *Arrested this morning by Las Vegas Police Department in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Vincent Tallo, age 49, of 12 Poppy Hill Drive, Johnston, RI -Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) -Organized Criminal Gambling -Conspiracy to Commit Extortion (4 counts) -Bookmaking -Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act -Possession of Firearm while Committing Crime of Violence -Possession of Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver
Karl Anastasi, age 20, of 40 Valley Street, Cranston, RI -Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act
Richard Calabro, age 58, of 141 Oxford Street, Cranston, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling -Bookmaking
Paul Calise, age 56, of 64 Eddy Street, Providence, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling -Conspiracy to commit Extortion -Bookmaking
Melissa Cato, age 36, of 96 Phenix Avenue, Cranston, RI -Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act
Richard Cato, age 38, of 96 Phenix Avenue, Cranston, RI -Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act
John Conaty, age 58, of 475 School Street, Pawtucket, RI -Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act
Gerald Coro, age 40, of 60 Hunter Avenue, Johnston, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling Bookmaking
Anthony Delmonico, age 55, of 39 Basil Crossing, Cranston, RI -Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) -Conspiracy to commit Extortion (4 counts)
Gennaro Dicarlo, age 53, of 15 Sunset Street, North Providence, RI -Criminal Solicitation
Christopher Disanto, age 64, of 70 Woonasquatucket Ave., North Providence, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling -Bookmaking
Thomas Hartley, age 74, of 7 Water Street, Johnston, RI -Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) -Usury
Robert Ianiero, age 53, of 29 Byron Street, North Providence, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling
Kevin Kitson, age 51, of 673 Putnam Pike, Glocester, RI -Conspiracy to commit bookmaking -Bookmaking
Shaun Macdonald, age 30, of 136 Puritan Avenue, Cranston, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling -Bookmaking
Alfred Maiello, age 49, of 33 ½ Marne St., Johnston, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling -Bookmaking
Walter McClean, age 52, of 359 Carpenter Street, Providence, RI -Felony Shoplifting
Anthony Palumbo, age 65, of 29 Pine Hill Road, Johnston, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling -Bookmaking
Michael Romano, age 58, of 110 Dean Avenue, Smithfield, RI -Criminal Solicitation
Helene Tallo, age 50, of 12 Poppy Hill Drive, Johnston, RI -Conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substances Act -Possession of marijuana
Raymond Vallante, age 56, of 11 Traver Avenue, Johnston, RI -Organized Criminal Gambling -Bookmaking
During the execution of these warrants the State Police seized one handgun, approximately $75,000 in cash, several motor vehicles used during the commission of these crimes, several thousand prescription pills and a small amount of marijuana.
Assistance to this investigation was also provided by members of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections Probation and Parole Unit, the Massachusetts State Police and the New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN).