GAMBLING PROBE Eighth LaVilla defendant expected to plead guilty

Sixteen were indicted in May after an FBI probe.
YOUNGSTOWN -- With Angelo Mosco intending to plead guilty to operating a gambling business, the government has reached the halfway point in its case against LaVilla Sports Bar & amp; Grille in Struthers.
Court records for U.S. District Judge Paul R. Matia show a change-of-plea hearing set for Monday in Cleveland federal court for Mosco, 48, of Edenridge Drive, Boardman. He is charged with operating a gambling business
How it started
In May, a federal grand jury in Cleveland indicted 15 men and one woman, accusing them of running sports bookmaking operations, college and professional football, mostly. All pleaded innocent and were released on $10,000 unsecured signature bonds pending trial, set for Dec. 13.
So far, six men have pleaded guilty. Richard Burnett, 57, of Runge Boulevard, Struthers, will plead guilty Wednesday. Mosco will be the eighth defendant to plead.
Those who have pleaded guilty so far are: Ronald Beshara of Canfield; Richard Milano of Campbell; Todd Yallech of Boardman; William McCullough of North Lima; James Donghia of Bessemer, Pa.; and Frank Daltorio of Boardman.
Donghia and Daltorio will be sentenced Dec. 23. McCullough, Beshara and Milano will be sentenced Jan. 3 and Yallech will be sentenced Jan. 4.
What they face
They each face six to 12 months in prison, which makes them eligible for a portion of the sentence spent in home detention.
The remaining defendants are:
U Steve "Moose" Almasy, 66, of Country Lane, Poland.
U Kevin Almasy, 35, of Midwood Circle, Boardman.
U Patrice Almasy, 33, of Midwood Circle, Boardman.
U Dennis Billec, 40, of Gertrude Avenue, Campbell.
U Frank Angelo, 48, of East Park Avenue, Hubbard.
U Vito Yeropoli, 30, of Rich Avenue, Hillsville, Pa.
U John Yurko, 56, of Maple Ridge Drive, Boardman.
U Joseph Vaio, 53, of Wilson Street, Struthers.
Judge Matia is considering a motion filed last week by Cleveland attorney Roger G. Synenberg to reset the trial. Synenberg represents Vaio.
Wiretapped data
FBI wiretapped conversations show that some bettors and bookmakers were told to meet at LaVilla on Youngstown-Poland Road, operated by Steve Almasy. The FBI said fruits of the gambling operation, including cash, were kept at his home.
In one month, illegal sports bookmakers with ties to the bar took in $2.5 million in bets, the FBI said.
The indictment, among other properties, asks for forfeiture of LaVilla Sports Bar & amp; Grille; the liquor permit in the name of Sally Ann Almasy, doing business as LaVilla. Steve and Sally Ann Almasy are married.
LaVilla, 812 Youngstown-Poland Road, is owned by Josephine Carabbia, according to Mahoning County records. She is a sister of Sally Ann Almasy.