Mafia Gambling Ringleader Pleads Guilty in New York City

An alleged associate of the Genovese organized crime family of La Cosa Nostra pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling operation generating proceeds for the crime family earlier this week. The criminal case involved Salvatore Rubino, nicknamed “Sal the Shoemaker,” who collaborated with other members of the family and operated an illegal gambling ring from his shoe repair shop in Brooklyn, New York, prosecutors claim.

Rubino was one out of five defendants who pleaded guilty to different felony charges regarding illicit activities. The proceeds from the activities, according to prosecutors, were “kicked up” to the leaders of the crime family.

Rubino’s guilty plea comes after four other co-defendants who were allegedly associated with the Genovese crime family also pleaded guilty to different charges. The list includes Joseph Rutigliano, known as “Joe Box” and Mark Feuer, who pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling operation on behalf of the family.

Joseph Macario, notorious as “Joe Fish,” pleaded guilty to racketeering while Carmelo “Carmine” Polito, a suspected active soldier and former acting captain for the family, was also involved in the illicit activity and pleaded guilty to attempted extortion and racketeering involving the operation of an illegal gambling business on behalf of the crime family.

According to prosecutors, Polito allegedly was involved in an illegal online gambling ring too. The man who is suspected of being a former captain for the Genovese crime family allegedly offered betting on sports via a website called PGWLines. Polito allegedly attempted to extort a person who is believed to have lost thousands of dollars through the platform. The same person, prosecutors believe, was threatened by him.

Criminal Activities Impact Local Communities

The criminal charges and guilty pleas come after an investigation that involved several agencies. The recent guilty pleas were announced by the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Breon Peace, the Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), James Smith, as well as the District Attorney with the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, Anne T. Donnelly.

“With their guilty pleas, these five members and associates of the Genovese crime family have admitted they committed crimes to benefit a criminal enterprise notorious for inflicting harm on our communities for generations.“

United States Attorney Breon Peace

Peace thanked the Nassau County Police Department and the New York City Police Department. He added that the successful operation resulted in the dismantlement of a criminal organization that negatively impacted local communities. Finally, Peace said that law enforcement remains dedicated to fighting crime and enforcing the law.