Nyc’s Notorious Mafia Families Are Alive and Caught up in the Nba Gambling Scandal. Here’s What to Know

NBA Gambling Scandal: New York Mafia FamiliesCaught in the Crosshairs

Several prominent members of New York City’s organized crime families, including those from the Gambino, Bonanno, Lucchese, and Genovese clans, are now facing charges related to a massive gambling operation. On Thursday, federal officials announced the arrests of dozens of individuals linked to rigged poker games that allegedly generated tens of millions in illegal profits.

The scope of this alleged scheme is staggering, according to Christopher Raia, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s New York field office. “This complex scheme was so far-reaching that it included members from four of the organized crime families,” he stated during a press conference. Raia further elaborated on the severity: “It created a financial pipeline for ‘La Cosa Nostra’ to help fund and facilitate their organized criminal activity across the nation.”

How the Scheme Worked

The alleged gambling operation was meticulously designed with multiple layers of deception. According to prosecutors, special shuffling machines and high-tech sunglasses were used to cheat participants out of nearly $7 million in rewards. These devices enabled conspirators to read the backs of playing cards, giving them an unfair advantage over unsuspecting players.

High-profile individuals such as former NBA player and coach Damon Jones and current Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups were implicated in these games. They reportedly received cuts from the profits generated by these illegal poker matches. “Victims of the scheme lost significant sums, with one victim losing $1.8 million,” New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch noted.

A Complex Network of Families

The alleged involvement of multiple mafia families in this scheme could be a sign of their ongoing power despite decades of decline. According to Louis Ferrante, former member of the Gambino family and author of a trilogy about the mafia, the five families once dominated New York City’s organized crime scene but have since lost control over various industries due to corporate takeovers and prosecutions.

“The dominance of these five families began in the aftermath of the Castellammarese War in the 1930s,” Ferrante explained. “They controlled a vast network of unions and small businesses, but they have since been bought out by larger corporations.”

Expert Perspectives on Mafia’s Resilience

Federico Varese, a professor of sociology at Sciences Po who has extensively studied mafias, believes the current state of these families is one of weakness. “The general point is that they’re very weak,” he said. “There is not much evidence that they are particularly able to control big markets.”

Varese highlighted that despite their diminished power, these families remain involved in smaller enterprises like gambling rings due to the difficulty of competing with larger supplier networks. “They no longer have these huge rackets, and what do they have left? They went back to the basics,” he added.

Significance of Multi-Family Involvement

The involvement of multiple families in this gambling scheme is particularly noteworthy according to experts. “Whenever you see multi-families involved, it’s a big racket with big money,” Ferrante stated. Varese agreed, noting that the collaboration between the families indicated a high degree of cooperation: “This investigation actually shows that they’re not as weak as people thought.”

The recent indictments and convictions of members from these families reflect ongoing efforts by law enforcement to dismantle organized crime networks in New York City. As this case unfolds, it will be crucial to determine the extent of their involvement and the impact on future investigations.