Genovese Bronx-based Gambling Ring Silenced with 6 Convictions

File Photo

By David Greene 

Bronx Voice 

February 20, 2023 

BRONX - Just days before the Super Bowl, America's single largest day of gambling, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced that six members of the Genovese crime family have pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy pertaining to an online gambling operation, with three of the six defendants based in the Bronx.

 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams announced that Genovese family associate Thomas Poli, 64, of the Bronx had pled guilty in federal court back on September 29, and will be sentenced on April 13.

 

Genovese family Captain Nicholas Calisi, 63, of Boca Raton, FL., soldier John Campanella, 47, of the Bronx and associate Michael Poli, 37, of Hawthorne, NY., submitted their guilty pleas on February 8, and are expected to be sentenced on June 27.

 

Genovese captain Ralph Balsamo, 54, of the Bronx and soldier Michael Messina, 69, of New Fairfield, CT. would submit their guilty pleas on February 9, and will be sentenced on June 28.

 

At the announcement, Williams stated, "Today's pleas demonstrate that those who swear a lifetime allegiance to criminal organizations will be prosecuted, no matter their efforts to insulate themselves."

 

Court documents from the superseding indictment revealed that the six men "engaged in extortionate extensions of credit by extortion, extortion, operating illegal gambling businesses and the transmission of gambling information."

 

All six members face up to 20 years in prison when sentenced.

 

In court testimony Thomas Poli revealed a relationship with Bronx County Clerk Luis Diaz, which led to Diaz' own indictment for submitting false information regarding Poli's false claim of fulfilling a community service requirement. Diaz also pled guilty and stepped down from his lifetime appointment in July 2022.