Learn about the alleged mobsters accused in a rigged poker scheme

Members of New York City’s notorious “Five Families” are known by many names: wise men, good fellows, and our friends. At least a dozen men with alleged Mafia ties can now add a new title to the mix: defendants in a federal investigation dubbed “Operation Royal Flush.”

The sprawling illegal gambling case announced by federal officials this week names a total of 34 defendants — including dozens of men who the government says are members or associates of notorious New York crime families such as the Genovese, Gambino, Bonanno and Lucchese. They are accused of orchestrating a high-tech poker rigging scheme that scammed unsuspecting gamblers out of millions of dollars over a six-year period.

“This alleged scheme has wreaked havoc across the country, exploiting the reputations of some and the wallets of others to fund Italian crime families,” said Christopher Raya, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office.

Here’s what we know about the alleged Mafia leaders, members and associates in Central Explosion condition.

Ernest Aiello

The 22-page indictment issued by the US government identifies Aiello as a member of the Bonanno crime family. Prosecutors allege that organizers of a rigged game on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan were asked to make payments to Aiello and his Bonanno associates.

Aiello, 46, has three prior felony convictions, according to a state arrest warrant unsealed Thursday. He pleaded guilty in 2017 to first-degree promoting gambling and was sentenced to two to four years in prison, according to the warrant. He also has prior convictions for attempted third-degree possession of a loaded firearm and attempted second-degree assault.

Aiello’s listed attorney did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

Louis Apicella, also known as “Lou Ap”

The indictment identifies Apicella as an associate of the Gambino family and a member of a “cheating team” that organized and participated in poker games, according to prosecutors.

Apicella, 50, has no criminal record, according to the arrest warrant, but “the government’s investigation revealed that Apicella had access to firearms and demonstrated a willingness to use violence for his own gain.”

The memo cites a text message exchange in which Apicella allegedly discussed “cracking…heads open.”

Sabrina Shroff, Apicella’s lawyer, declined to comment.

Ammar Awawda, also known as “Flapper Poker” and “Flappy”

The indictment indicates that Al-Awawda (34 years old) is an accomplice in the Gambino criminal family. Prosecutors say he organized and participated in a rigged game at Washington Place in Manhattan and other locations, including the Hamptons, and was required to make payments to mobsters supporting the scheme.

Al-Awawda is also accused of committing a robbery at gunpoint in September 2023 to steal a “specific model” of a stock shuffler that he and other defendants wanted to use in their games.

He had a prior felony conviction for laundering proceeds of controlled substances and was sentenced to probation in 2020, according to the arrest warrant.

Al-Awawda’s lawyers, Mark Lesko and Metin Amouna, declined to comment.

Matthew Daddino, also known as “Matty” and “The Wrestler”

The indictment identifies Daddino, 43, as a member of the Genovese family. Prosecutors say he helped run a poker game at Washington Place in Manhattan and received “proceeds” from rigged games.

Gerard M. Marrone, Daddino’s attorney, said his client has “no criminal history whatsoever” and maintains his innocence. Comparing the case to the Black Sox scandal of 1919, he said Daddino and other Italian-American defendants are “easy targets for the government” while “the real criminals are being protected.”

Lee Fama

The indictment identifies Fama, 57, as a member of the Gambino family. Prosecutors said he received part of the money from the games.

Fama has three prior felony convictions, according to the arrest warrant. He pleaded guilty to distributing marijuana in 2012 and was sentenced to six months in prison. He was previously convicted of assault in aid of racketeering and sentenced to 58 months in prison. He was also convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree.

Fama’s attorney, Marissa Sherman, declined to comment.

John Gallo

The indictment indicates that Gallo, 53, is an associate of the Gambino family. He was an organizer of the Washington Place match and a member of a “cheating squad” that rigged the matches, according to prosecutors. He also received proceeds from the game, the indictment says.

Gallo has one prior felony conviction, according to the arrest warrant. In 2014, he pleaded guilty to attempted corporate corruption, attempted criminal usury and promoting gambling in the first degree. He was sentenced to one year in prison.

Gallo’s listed attorney did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

Thomas Gilardo, also known as “Juice”

The indictment identified Gilardo (42 years old) as an associate of the Bonanno family, who later became affiliated with the Genovese family. Prosecutors say he received proceeds from illegal gaming.

Gilardo is also accused of blackmailing an unnamed person to “secure payment of debts.”

of illegal poker games” between November 2022 and September 2023.

He has several prior convictions for violent crimes, including assault and weapons possession, according to the arrest warrant. Gilardo was convicted of second-degree assault in 2002 and sentenced to a year in prison. Three years later, he was convicted of second-degree assault and given a five-year suspended sentence.

Then, in 2008, he was convicted of third-degree gun possession and sentenced to two to four years in prison.

The attorney listed by Gelardo did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

Joseph Laney

The indictment identifies Lani, 54, as a member and alleged leader of the Gambino family. He also received proceeds from illegal gaming, according to prosecutors.

He has several prior felony convictions, according to a sentencing memorandum. He was convicted of securities fraud in 1999 and sentenced to 30 months in prison. He was convicted of first-degree promoting gambling in 2014 and sentenced to one year in prison.

Laney pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy related to his leadership role in the Gambino family.

Laney’s attorney, Frederick Sosinski, said in a statement that his client “complied with all conditions of release” from the racketeering conspiracy case to which he pleaded guilty last week. Sosinski said the court agreed to release Lani on similar bail so he could defend himself in the new case.

“Unlike most of the other individuals charged in this week’s indictment with fraud, extortion, theft or money laundering, Mr. Laney is accused only of being involved in one way or another in running a gambling business — what the government itself calls ‘straight’ poker in which none of the high-tech cheating is even alleged to have occurred,” Sosinski said. “Mr. Lanni denies any involvement in the ‘straight’ or unsubstantiated poker business and looks forward to his next court date.”

Nicholas Minucci

The indictment identifies Minucci, 39, as a Gambino family associate and a member of the “fraud team,” according to prosecutors. Prosecutors allege he participated in a gunpoint robbery in September 2023 revolving around a rigged shuffler.

Minucci has a “criminal record,” according to the arrest warrant. He was convicted of various counts of robbery as a hate crime related to an incident in which he hit a black man in the head with a baseball bat and, using the N-word, told the victim not to enter the “predominantly Italian-American” neighborhood, the warrant says.

He was sentenced to 25 years in prison and was released on parole in 2018.

An attorney for Minucci did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

Anthony Ruggiero Jr

The indictment identifies Ruggiero, 53, as a member of the Gambino family who received “proceeds” from the underground games. Prosecutors describe him as having a “long history of committing serious crimes – including witness tampering.”

In 2008, he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering and was sentenced to 84 months in prison.

While serving this sentence, he was convicted of witness tampering to intimidate a potential trial witness, where he reportedly shaped his hand into a “gun” and said, “You know how we take care of rats, we deal with them up close and personal.”

He was sentenced to an additional 36 months in prison.

James R. Froccaro, Ruggiero’s attorney, declined to comment.

Seth Trustman

The indictment identifies Trustman, 43, as an associate of the Lucchese family — the only alleged member of that clan named in the case. The indictment says Trustman organized illegal gaming on Lexington Avenue and other locations, and made payments to Aiello and Gelardo. He is also accused of blackmailing an unnamed person to collect gambling debts in 2023.

Trustman has two prior felony convictions, according to the arrest warrant. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison in 2010 after pleading guilty to racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and two counts of illegal gambling. Nine years later, he was convicted of criminal usury and corporate corruption, then sentenced to three years in prison.

Contact information for attorneys representing Trustman was not immediately available, and NBC News was unable to reach them for comment.

Julius Ziliani, also known as “Jay”

The indictment identifies Ziliani, 54, as a member of the Bonanno family who received a share of the gaming proceeds. Prosecutors allege that he and co-defendant Gilardo blackmailed an individual to collect gambling debts between November 2022 and February 2023.

Ziliani’s lawyer, Marco A. Laraca, said his client “denies all the accusations against him and looks forward to his day in court.”