Two Stamford Men Plead Guilty in Gambling Ring Trial

According to officials Thursday, three Connecticut men—two from Stamford—pleaded guilty Wednesday to their roles in an illegal gambling business operating in Stamford and Hamden cities.

According to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut, Thomas "Little T" Uva IV, 32, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to violate the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act while John Colello, 54, of Stamford, pleaded guilty to one count of operating and illegal gambling business.

North Haven resident John Liquori, 43, also pleaded guilty. He pleaded to one count of RICO conspiracy as well. 

Following a long-term investigation led by the FBI Fairfield County Organized Crime Task Force, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Stamford Police Department, 20 individuals—including the three named above—were charged with various offenses related to their involvement in an alleged illegal Internet sports bookmaking operation and illegal card gambling clubs in Stamford and Hamden. 

Uva and Liquori are alleged associates of the Gambino organized crime family.

The investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps, revealed that Uva, Liquori, Colello and others were allegedly involved in a large-scale sports bookmaking operation in which gamblers placed bets with offshore Internet sports-gambling websites, particularly www.44wager.com based in Costa Rica. 

In addition, UVA and others allegedly operated a card gambling club at 514 Glenbrook Road in Stamford, and Liquori and others operated a card gambling club at 2965 State Street in Hamden.  Certain other co-conspirators also allegedly operated a gambling club at 859 East Main Street in Stamford.

FBI analysis of the sports-betting web site utilized by the co-defendants has determined that the alleged total gross revenues of the Stamford-based gambling operation were nearly $1.7 million from October 2010 to June 2011.

Uva, Liquori and Colello are each scheduled to be sentenced on June 3, 2013.  Uva faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years, Liquori faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and Colello faces a maximum term of imprisonment of five years.

Five other defendants have pleaded guilty to charges stemming from this investigation.