73 year old South Philly Mob associate Anthony Gifoli, aka “Tony Meatballs”, is the first defendant in the latest round of Mob indictments to agree to plead guilty.
Gifoli was charged along with 14 others back in November as part of a wide sweeping FBI Organized Crime investigation that included racketeering, extortion, drug and gambling charges.
The highly publicized investigation also snared reputed Philly Mob Underboss Steve Mazzone, his brother, Mob Soldier Sonny Mazzone and up and coming Mob Captain Domenic Grande, along with North Jersey Mob Soldier and convicted drug dealer Joseph “Joey Electric” Servidio.
Court documents obtained by Mobtalksitdown.com indicate that Gifoli agreed to plead plea to conducting an illegal gambling operation and aiding and abetting charges.
Prosecutors claimed in the plea agreement that Gifoli’s gambling operation netted up to $2,000 a day during the investigation.
The charges carry a maximum of five years in prison, but court documents indicate that Gifoli could get as little as three months house arrest followed by 33 months of probation, then supervised release.
Here’s what the change of plea agreement states:
“As outlined in the superseding indictment, the LCN engaged in a number of different efforts to extort local criminals into providing portions of their criminal activities to the LCN.
One effort, beginning in approximately October 2016, involved the coordinated attempt to extort local bookmakers operating in Pennsylvania and New Jersey into working for the LCN.
Arising from those extortion efforts, the FBI identified a phone number, 267-516-7910, that was being used by the LCN to receive illegal gambling wagers and to otherwise fulfill the activities of an illegal gambling operation.
Beginning in February 2017, the FBI sought and received
permission from a judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to intercept wire and electronic communications over the telephone line. The wiretap then continued to operate until May 16, 2017.
The FBI intercepted communications and utilized periodic and steady state surveillance to investigate the gambling operation. The intercepted communications revealed that Louis (Louie Sheep) Barretta was the principal user of 267-516-7910 and that he received calls from several sub-bookmakers who placed wagers for themselves and their customers throughout the interception period on a variety of sporting events, such as the 2017 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the 2017 NFL Super Bowl, and games within the 2017 MLB season.
At various points in time throughout the interception period, Barretta was unavailable to answer and place calls on 267-516-7910 and in his place the defendant, Anthony Gifoli, acted as the conductor of the gambling operation and as the user of 267-516-7910.
In that position Gifoli received calls from over 5 different sub-bookmakers and took information on and documented their respective wagers on various sporting events. Gifoli was also intercepted engaging in
“settle up” conversations with the various sub-bookmakers.
In that regard, Gifoli informed various sub-bookmakers of the amounts that were due to be paid or received between them and Barretta for prior wagers on sporting events.
Coordinated later surveillance captured instances of Barretta then meeting with the identified sub-bookmakers and, in the context of related intercepted communications and surveillance, paid or received unlawful debts accrued in connection with the gambling activities.
Gifoli’s plea leaves 13 defendants still facing charges after defendant Kenneth Arabia passed away two weeks ago. The defendants are still awaiting discovery evidence in the case and arguing to begin the trial next Fall.
Prosecutors have filed motions to declare this a “complicated case” and are seeking more time to try the case in court. So far no date has been set for a trial.
