25 Indicted in Alleged RI Sports Bets Ring

By Ed Scarpo
Boston.com: A Rhode Island grand jury has indicted 25 people in connection with an alleged illegal sports betting ring, including several people authorities say are mobsters.

The state attorney general's office announced the indictments Thursday. The defendants are to be arraigned Dec. 7.

Prosecutors say the indictments are tied to the May arrests of the ring's members, including 51-year-old Vincent Tallo, who is accused of being its leader. Tallo's lawyer said then his client denied the allegations.

Investigators say cell phone wire taps revealed bookmaking activities of nearly $400,000.

Prosecutors say Tallo's alleged accomplices include reputed mafia figures, Edward "Eddy" Lato (LAY'-toh), Alfred "Chippy" Scivola (skee-VOH'-lah) and Frank "Bobo" Marrapese, Jr.

Lato and Scivola have pleaded not guilty in a separate federal case accusing them of shaking down Providence-area strip clubs.


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