Rhode Island Authorities Arrest Several Suspected Mobsters in Gambling Ring

SCITUATE, R.I.-- Twenty-four people, including some suspected mobsters, are under arrest following a lengthy investigation into an organized criminal gambling operation, Rhode Island State Police said Friday.

The investigation into the gambling rings and the "made members" of the Patriarca crime family began during the fall of 2010, WPRI Fox News reports.

Authorities say wiretaps revealed that Vincent R. Tallo, 49, was accepting illegal sports wagers on various professional and college sporting events.

Law enforcement officials also say Tallo was illegally purchasing and selling prescription narcotics at his home.

State police arrested a number of known mobsters, including high-ranking member Edward Lato, 65, Frank “Bobo” Marrapese, Jr., 68, and Alfred “Chippy” Scivola, 69. The men are all accused of being accomplices.

Marrapese is currently on parole from a life sentence for the 1987 murder of Richard “Dickie” Callie. He was released from prison in 2008.

Rhode Island authorities say wiretaps from Marrapese's cell phone revealed other illegal activities including extortion and criminal usury. Investigators believe Marrapese used his status as a "made" member to carry out the criminal acts.

Alfred Maiello, 49, is also accused of engaging in organized criminal gambling. A wire intercept of Maiello’s cell phone revealed nearly $400,000 in bookmaking activities.

Click here for the full list of those arrested in connection to the gambling ring investigation. 

24 arrested in RI illegal gambling ring: wpri.com