Gambling arrests net 15
Two defendants are accused of destroying property to prevent seizure.
By PATRICIA MEADE
VINDICATOR CRIME REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The operator of LaVilla Sports Bar and Grill in Struthers and 15 others have been charged with running a sports bookmaking business.
The indictment, unsealed today, charges that all 16 violated federal gambling laws. The time frame in the indictment is Nov. 10, 2001, through Jan. 20, 2002.
The government said the bookmaking business remained in substantially continuous operation for more than 30 days and had a gross revenue of $2,000 on any single day.
By midmorning, 11 of the defendants had been arrested, said FBI Special Agent John Lichtefeld. The defendants were to make their initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge George Limbert.
Charged
Among those charged is Steve "Moose" Almasy, 66, of Country Lane, Poland, operator of LaVilla Sports Bar and Grill on Youngstown-Poland Road in Struthers; and his son, Kevin Almasy, 35, of Midwood Circle, Boardman, Lichtefeld said.
Steve Almasy's daughter is Dionne M. Almasy, Youngstown city prosecutor. She could not be reached to comment.
The indictment asks for forfeiture of LaVilla Sports Bar and Grill, 8 Midwood Circle, and the liquor permit in the name of Sally Ann Almasy, doing business as LaVilla. Sally Ann Almasy is Steve Almasy's wife.
Vindicator files show that Steve Almasy pleaded guilty in 1964 to promoting a numbers game and received six months in jail. He was alleged to have ties to organized crime figure Ronald D. Carabbia in the mid-1960s and used Carabbia's home address for vending machine permits.
In May 1986, Almasy was charged with operating a gambling house at LaVilla. Disposition of the case was not immediately available.
Also indicted
Also charged in today's gambling indictment:
UPatrice Almasy, 33, of Midwood Circle, Boardman
UFrank Angelo, 48, of East Park Avenue, Hubbard.
URonald Beshara, 52, of Catawba Drive, Canfield.
UDennis Billec, 40, of Gertrude Avenue, Campbell.
URichard Burnett, 57, of Runge Boulevard, Struthers.
UFrank Daltorio, 40, of Appleridge Circle, Boardman.
UJames Donghia, 34, of 12th Street, Bessemer, Pa.
URichard Milano, 46, of Neoka Drive, Campbell.
UWilliam McCullough, 53, of Sharrott Road, Youngstown.
UAngelo Mosco, 48, of Edenridge Drive, Boardman.
UJoseph Vaio, 53, of Wilson Street, Struthers.
UTodd Yallech, 35, of East Huntington Drive, Boardman.
UJohn Yurko, 56, of Maple Ridge Drive, Boardman.
UVito Yeropoli, 30, of Rich Avenue, Hillsville, Pa.
Daltorio, Milano and Vaio are also charged with destruction of property to prevent seizure.
The FBI investigated the case; Matthew B. Kall, an assistant U.S. attorney based in Cleveland, is prosecuting.
meade@vindy.com