Carmelo "Carmine" Polito, a 64-year-old former acting capo of the Genovese crime family, received a 30-month prison sentence for operating illegal gambling operations in Long Island. The sentence was handed down on Friday following his April 5 guilty plea.

Polito ran an illegal gambling parlor at the Gran Caffé, a Lynbrook gelateria and coffee bar, as part of a larger gambling network operated jointly by the Genovese and Bonanno crime families in Nassau County. The establishment featured illegal poker machines and games, generating daily profits exceeding $2,000.

The operation, which began in May 2012, involved a profit-sharing agreement between the two crime families. Polito worked alongside Joseph "Joe Fish" Macario representing the Genovese family, while Anthony "Little Anthony" Pipitone represented the Bonanno family's interests.

In addition to the physical gambling location, Polito admitted to running PGWLines, an illegal online sports betting operation. He employed violent tactics to collect debts, including threats to "break his face" and "put him under the f***ing bridge" to delinquent customers.

The 2022 federal indictment included five individuals on charges of racketeering, attempted extortion, and illegal gambling:

• Carmelo Polito
• Joseph Macario
• Joseph "Joe Box" Rutigliano
• Salvatore "Sal the Shoemaker" Rubino
• Mark Feuer

Nassau County Police Detective Hector Rosario was also indicted for accepting mob kickbacks in exchange for organizing raids on competing gambling operations. He faces charges of obstructing a grand jury investigation and making false statements to the FBI, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

FBI Assistant Director James Dennehy stated that "Polito's illegitimate business and death threats financed the operations of two crime families" before justice was served.

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