A man allegedly associated with a scheme involving rigged card games connected to certain NBA players was denied bail on Tuesday. Authorities expressed concerns that he might intimidate a witness if released.
In a Brooklyn federal court, Anthony Ruggiero Jr.’s appeal for a $5 million bond, supported by his family and friends, was turned down, as reported by the New York Post.
Judge Joseph Marutollo sided with federal prosecutors, who argued that Ruggiero could potentially disrupt the legal process by tampering with witnesses if he were to be released.
The World Series of Poker 2021 took place at the RIO All-Suite Hotel & Casino on October 6, 2021, in Las Vegas. (Diego Ribas/PxImages)
Judge Marutollo recounted an incident where Ruggiero, aged 53, allegedly threatened a witness with violence, making a hand gesture resembling a gun and stating, “You know how we take care of rats — up close and personal.”
James Froccaro, Ruggiero’s attorney, argued for his client’s release, noting that other individuals implicated in the same scheme had been granted bail, even though they faced similarly serious accusations.
Angelo Ruggiero Jr., a made member of the Gambino crime family, has a prior conviction for threatening to kill a witness while still in prison, federal prosecutors said in a court filing last week.
“Ultimately, while together with the witness in their cell, the defendant made his hand into the shape of a gun, pointed it at the witness’s head and stated, in sum and substance, ‘You know how we take care of rats — we get up close and personal,’” court papers said, according to the Post.
Ruggiero is the son of Angelo Ruggiero Sr., a deceased member of New York’s Gambino crime family who was the right-hand man of notorious boss John Gotti.
Angelo, known for frequently discussing crime family business on the phone, earned the nickname “Quack Quack.”
The Justice Department alleges that the younger Ruggiero was involved in a scheme to rig poker games inside a Greenwich Village apartment.
The townhouse was one of two Manhattan locations where high-stakes poker games were allegedly fixed by four of the city’s most powerful crime families, including the Gambinos, prosecutors said, according to the Post.
An alleged mobster accused of being linked to the rigged card games tied to some NBA members was denied bail this week amid fears he may try to intimidate a witness. Former NBA player Chauncey Billups appears at right. (Soobum/Getty Images)
The suspects allegedly used NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers, and former NBA player Damon Jones, 49, to attract high rollers.
Fox News Digital has reached out to Froccarro.
