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Home > News > Connecticut News
Police Bust Sports Gambling Ring
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<LI class=relatedTitle>Topics - Tourism and Leisure
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7:16 p.m. EST, November 17, 2010
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State police have arrested 13 people in connection with an illegal sports betting operation, including popular radio personality Sebastian, according to sources familiar with the case.
Sebastian, whose real name Joseph Schlosser, worked at local stations WCCC-FM, WDRC-AM, WZMX-FM, and often talked about gambling on the air. Scholsser, 62, who lives in Farmington, faces professional gambling and transmitting gambling information charges.
Randy Petroniro, 46, who resigned his position as Wolcott town councilman on Tuesday, has also been arrested. Petroniro has been charged with professional gambling and transmitting gambling information.
Police said the gambling ring operated in and around the greater Hartford area and that a number of luxury automobiles bought with proceeds of the criminal enterprise have been seized, including a Ferrari and a Mercedes Benz.
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Also arrested were Constantine Galanis, 44, of Bristol; James Loughery, 55, of Wethersfield; Anthony Disantis, 48, of Wolcott; Patrick Corry, 53, of Wethersfield; Brett Margentino, 31, of Berlin; Leo Barney, 81, of Bristol; Christopher Peck, 43, of Berlin; Maryanne Vece, 56, of Westbrook; Tommy Allen, 36, of Bloomfield; Edward Jamele, 57, of Southington; and Kelvin Townsend, 42, of Hartford.
They face a number of charges, including corrupt organizations and racketeering activity (C.O.R.A.), conspiracy to engage in C.O.R.A., professional gambling, transmitting gambling information, conspiracy to engage in professional gambling, maintaining gambling premises and possession of gambling records.
State police Lt. J. Paul Vance said that all those arrested were involved with the ring's operation and that police expect to make additional arrests.
The arrests came after a year-long investigation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division, the Statewide Organized Crime Investigative Task Force and the Chief State's Attorney's Office.
