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A New England mobster stands accused of using stolen identities to obtain perks at Rhode Island casino
During the last twelve (12) months, Giuseppe “Little Joe” Manzi is said to haveplaced approximately $630,000.00 of United States Currency into the slot machines.
Giuseppe “Little Joe” Manzi, 51, of East Longmeadow, Massachusetts stands accused of using other people's identities to turn $600,000 turned into nearly $1.2 million at the Lincoln, Rhode Island Bally’s Casino and Resort.
Manzi and four other Springfield, Massachusetts men have been accused in the alleged scheme.
After two decades of what appeared to be clean living, this will be Manzi's second arrest in a matter of months. Manzi has previously served three years in federal prison for racketeering dating back to 2006.
He and his codefendants were charged as fugitives from justice, linked to a warrant out of Rhode Island. They are charged with cheating casinos and obtaining property under false pretenses, according to court records.
"During the last twelve (12) months, Manzi has placed approximately $630,000.00 of United States Currency into the slot machines. In the casino world, this is referred to his 'coin in.' During the 116 days of slot machine play, Manzi has won $1,156,105.00," police records say.
The casino flagged the wins. A casino employee, identified only as Mr. Monty, then reviewed his play and stated it was "statistically impossible" for Manzi to nearly double his money so consistently without some type of casino cheating.
He and his cohorts jockeyed among slot machines in the high stakes room, racking up winnings that were ultimately flagged by a casino employee, according to the court records.
Court records show that Manzi was released on $50,000 cash bail in Palmer District Court on Friday, with a promise to show up at a Rhode Island courthouse on Monday.
Four codefendants were locked up, while another individual, Franco "Frankie" Fusco, remained at large late last week. Only Manzi made bail after an argument by defense attorney Nikolas Andreopoulos.
Manzi's alleged coconspirators are Antonio Capua, 47, of East Longmeadow, Claudio Cardaropoli, 47, also of East Longmeadow, Alfonso B. Lalli, 51, a retired postman, of Springfield, and Salvatore Fusco, 23, of Longmeadow.
Lalli was arrested at the casino previously after retiring from the U.S. Postal Service.
Cardaropoli was previously convicted in a nationwide marijuana trafficking scheme.
Court records identified all as associates of the New York-based Genovese Crime Family's "Springfield Crew," a Mafia outpost in Western Massachusetts and Connecticut for centuries.
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
