‘Bonanno Cop’ Raided Genovese, Gambino Gambling Dens in Queens, Long Island

A former Long Island cop accused of working for the Bonanno crime family raided rival illegal gambling businesses operated by the Genovese and Gambino families, according to new court documents.

One of the businesses targeted by now-fired Nassau County Police Department Detective Hector Rosario included a gambling parlor run by Genovese gangster Salvatore “Sal the Shoemaker” Rubino, prosecutors claim.

Two of Rosario’s alleged Bonanno paymasters, both unnamed, are expected to give evidence that the detective barged into Sal’s Shoe Repair in Merrick, NY., broke one of the gambling machines, and asked where he could find “Joe Box.” Joseph Rutigliano, aka “Joe Box,” collected the gambling receipts for the Genovese family.

Bonanno members used proceeds from their illegal gambling operations to pay the defendant for his efforts, according to court filings.

The allegedly mobbed-up cop also shut down at least two Gambino crime family venues and tipped off colleagues in the Nassau County Police Department about the existence of a third, documents claim.

Rosario is scheduled to go on trial next month in a Brooklyn federal court for obstructing a grand jury investigation and lying to the FBI.

Joint Venture

From August 2012 to at least August 2022, the Bonannos operated illegal gambling businesses inside various coffee shops and sports clubs throughout Queens and Long Island, including La Nazionale Soccer Club and Glendale Sports Club and Soccer Club, according to court documents.

Meanwhile, the Genovese family operated similar establishments in the area out of their own locations, including Sal’s Shoe Repair and the Centro Calcio Italiano Club.

Each establishment operated “illegal joker poker-type gambling machines,” as well as poker games, generating more than $2,000 each day, according to prosecutors.

Also, from at least May 2023, the two families jointly operated a lucrative illegal gambling parlor concealed inside a coffee shop in Lynbrook called the Gran Caffé.

The profit-sharing deal had been negotiated between reputed Genovese capo Carmelo “Carmine” Polito and his soldier Joseph “Joe Fish” Macario, and alleged Bonanno capo Anthony “Little Anthony” Pipitone. This deal didn’t extend to “the Shoemaker,” who was seen as competition to the Bonanno family.

Sweeping Indictments

Pipitone, his brother Vito Pipitone, and Agostino Gabriele, all reputed Bonannos, were indicted along with Rosario and have pleaded guilty to racketeering and illegal gambling charges.

In a motion filed January 10, Rosario’s lawyers asked the judge to ban federal prosecutors from mentioning “organized crime” at his trial. In their response, the prosecutors argued it was somewhat integral to their case.