A Long Island shoe store has admitted to operating an illegal gambling den from his now-closed store that raised money for the Mafia.
Salvatore Rubino, better known as “The Shoemaker’s Monkey,” was in federal court Tuesday on numerous charges related to his illegal gambling business and using its proceeds to shore up the coffers of the notorious Genovese crime family. Pleaded guilty. announced by federal prosecutors.
He told a Brooklyn federal court judge that he had gambling machines installed in the back of Sal’s Shoe Repair store in Merrick, where he operated poker games three nights a week. Newsday reported.
Mr. Rubino, 60, and Mr. Joseph Rutigliano, 65, known as “Joe Box,” will collect the profits of the Genovese family and distribute the funds to senior members.
Their business was active from May 2012 until 2021, when the coronavirus pandemic forced Sal’s Shoe Repair to close.
Meanwhile, other gangs operated out of seemingly innocuous businesses across Long Island, including a gelato shop called Gran Café Gelateria in Lynbrook and the Centro Calcio Italiano Club in West Babylon, prosecutors said. authorities said.
Authorities say these companies secretly operated poker-type gambling machines and poker games, generating more than $2,000 in revenue in a single day.
Four other people involved in the massive operation pleaded guilty earlier this month. Among them are Rutigliano and Carmelo “Carmine” Polito, 64, the alleged acting captain of the Genovese crime family, who is also part of the PGW line.
Prosecutors say he once threatened to “break” a debtor’s “face” and in 2019 instructed his subordinates to relay a message: “Tell them they’ll put you under the fucking bridge.” .
Joseph Macario, 69, also known as “Joe Fish,” also pleaded guilty to racketeering charges, and Mark Feuer, 61, also pleaded guilty to other felonies related to operating an illegal gambling operation.
“With their guilty pleas, five members of the Genovese crime family and their associates have committed themselves to a criminal organization notorious for harming our communities for generations,” U.S. Attorney Brion Peace said in a statement. He admitted that he committed the crime to benefit the public.”
“Unless the Mafia understands that illegal gambling is a losing proposition, they can bet that this office and our partners will vigorously enforce the law and bring them out of the shadows.” ” she added.
Rubino is currently expected to be sentenced to four to 10 months in prison as part of his plea deal, but could face up to five years in prison and have to pay a $250,000 fine, Newsday reported. Ta.
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