17 RI Illegal Gambling Ring Members Busted after Raids: Police

CRANSTON, RI—An eight-month investigation into an organized gambling ring culminated in the arrests of 17 men in a series of raids executed Tuesday morning across Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island State Police said in a news release that the investigation was aided by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and police departments in Providenec, Warwick, Cranston, Scituate, North Providence, Narragansett, East Providence, West Warwick, Johnston, Lincoln, Central Falls, East Greenwich, Woonsocket and Newport.

Raids carried out on Tuesday included an oceanfront house on Beach Row in Narragansett and the Cozy Grill in Warwick among other locations.

All 17 arrested were due to be arraigned in District Court on Tuesday.

A sign on the Cozy Grill on Tuesday said the restaurant is closed due to a family emergency.

Among those charged are several prominent Rhode Island sports figures and athletes along with a man who police said is a known mob associate.

They are:

• Thomas J. Pilderian, 45, of 55 Pine Ridge Road, Cranston, charged with bookmaking, organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Mark B. Battista, 39, of 400 Narragansett Parkway, Warwick charged with bookmaking, organized criminal gambling, conspiracy and three coutns of possession of a controlled substance.
• Mark V. Marinaro, 43, of 11 Winward Circle, Warwick, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Jason M. Pilderian, 39, of 25 Talbut Road, Scituate, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Joseph R. Brunelle, 38, of 12 Palm St., North Providence, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Eric D. Glaude, 40, of 35 Marigold Circle, North Providence, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Dustin R. Sears, 40, of 40 Braeburn Circle, Cranston, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• David J. Disano, 42 of 83 West Hill Drive, Cranston, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Jonny E. Lubo, 44, of 111 Wunnegin Circle, Warwick, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• James J. Petrella, 31, of 26 Beach Row, Narragansett, charged with bookmaking, organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Timothy J. Moretti, 46, of 1710 Phenix Ave., Cranston, charged with bookmaking, organized criminal gambling conspiracy and violation of probation for prior convictions of intent to deliver cocaine and possession of one ounce to one kilogram of cocaine.
• Sean W. Furney, 24, of 48 Roosevelt St., Warwick, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Brian K. Cipolla, 48, of 178 Council Rock Road, Cranston, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Lewis Silveira, 50, of 154 North St., Warwick, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• John Depietro, 41, 39 Prospect Ave., South Kingstown, charged with possession with intent to deliver one to five kilos of marijuana, possession of 1 to 5 kilos of marijuana, possession of Adderall with intent to deliver.
• Christopher R. Costantino, 24, of 10 Cedar Pond Drive, Warwick, charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.
• Joseph A. Capelli, 38, of 58 Firglade Drive, Cranston charged with organized criminal gambling and conspiracy.

Police said the investigation is "continuing."

Constantino was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2009. Furney signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013. Both had notable careers in high school and Constantino was signed in his senior year at Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick.

The Providence Journal reported that Thomas Pilderan and Jason Pilderan are brothers and former high school sports stars; Jason was an All-State quarterback for Bishop Hendricken in the 1990s and Thomas was an All-State running back for Cranston High School East in 1987.

Moretti, who has previous convictions for drugs, conspiracy and racketeering, is a former corrections officer at the state prison.

A person convicted of Organized Criminal Gambling may be imprisoned for not more than five (5) years and fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000).

A person convicted of Bookmaking may be punished by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) or imprisonment not exceeding one year, and upon a second conviction of a violation of this section shall be imprisoned for a period not less than one nor more than five (5) years.

A person convicted of possession with intent to deliver one kilogram (1 kg.) to five (5 kgs.) kilograms of marijuana may be imprisoned for a term up to fifty (50) years and fined not more than five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000).