The High-Stakes Game: Mafia's Poker Scheme Unveiled

Operation Royal Flush

Federal authorities have exposed a sophisticated poker rigging operation linked to New York City's infamous Mafia families. This high-tech scheme, which spanned six years, allegedly involved members and associates of the Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno, and Lucchese crime families.

The operation, known as "Operation Royal Flush," has led to the indictment of 34 individuals, including several alleged mobsters.

The Scheme

The scheme targeted unsuspecting gamblers, using advanced technology to manipulate poker games and amass millions of dollars. The FBI's Christopher Raia described the operation as a nationwide scam that exploited both the reputation of some and the finances of others to fund the Italian crime families.

Key Defendants

Ernest Aiello

Member of the Bonanno family
Accused of receiving payments from rigged games on Lexington Avenue
History of felony convictions
Attorney did not respond to requests for comment

Louis Apicella

Associate of the Gambino family
Part of the "Cheating Team"
No prior criminal history, but access to firearms
Lawyer declined to comment

Ammar Awawdeh

Gambino associate
Organized rigged games in Manhattan and the Hamptons
Charged with gunpoint robbery for a rigged shuffling machine
Prior felony conviction for laundering drug proceeds
Attorneys declined to comment

Matthew Daddino

Member of the Genovese family
Managed the Washington Place poker game
Attorney asserts innocence, compares case to the 1919 Black Sox scandal

Lee Fama

Member of the Gambino family
Received proceeds from the games
Three prior felony convictions
Lawyer declined to comment

John Gallo

Gambino associate
Organized the Washington Place game
Part of the "Cheating Team"
Prior felony conviction for attempted enterprise corruption
Attorneys did not respond

Thomas Gelardo

Bonanno associate, later affiliated with the Genovese family
Accused of extorting debts from illegal poker games
Multiple prior felony convictions for violent crimes
Attorney did not respond

Joseph Lanni

Member and alleged captain of the Gambino family
Received proceeds from illegal games
Multiple prior felony convictions
Attorney states Lanni denies participation

Nicholas Minucci

Gambino associate
Part of the "Cheating Team"
Accused of gunpoint robbery involving a rigged shuffling machine
Criminal history, including convictions for robbery as a hate crime
Attorney did not respond

Anthony Ruggiero Jr.

Member of the Gambino family
Received proceeds from underground games
Long history of serious crimes, including witness tampering
Attorney declined to comment

Seth Trustman

Associate of the Lucchese family
Organized illegal games
Accused of extorting gambling debts
Two prior felony convictions
Attorney could not be reached

Julius Ziliani

Member of the Bonanno family
Received a share of the games' proceeds
Accused of extorting gambling debts
Attorney states client denies all allegations