Angelo Ruggiero Jr., of Queens, Nicholas Minucci, of East Northport, plead guilty in sprawling mob gambling case

A reputed Gambino crime family member from Howard Beach, Queens, was among those who pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges stemming from last year’s massive federal gambling case and faces a number of years in prison as part of a plea bargain, officials said.

Angelo Ruggiero Jr., 53, son of the late Gambino crime family captain Angelo Ruggiero — who was once a confidante of the mob boss John Gotti — pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud conspiracy before U.S. Magistrate Clay Kaminsky in federal court in Brooklyn, said a spokesman for U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr.

Also pleading guilty to wire fraud conspiracy Tuesday was Nicholas Minucci, 39, of East Northport. With Tuesday’s proceedings, the number of defendants who have pleaded guilty number 15, officials said, almost half of the those originally indicted.

Minucci’s defense attorney, Scott Leemon, said his clients accepts responsibility for his actions and wants to put it all behind him.

Ruggiero had been in custody since his arrest in October 2025 and will remain so until sentencing on Dec. 8, authorities said.

While the length of Ruggiero’s possible prison sentence is to be determined later,  a legal source familiar with federal sentencing guidelines said he face a possible term of 46 to 57 months, although he will receive credit for time already spent in jail.

Ruggiero’s defense attorney, James Froccaro, declined to comment. Nocella’s office issued no statement.

Ruggerio was among several reputed Mafia members and associates linked to the Gambino, Genovese and Bonanno crimes families indicted in the federal case that alleged they rigged card games in Manhattan, Las Vegas and East Hampton. The scheme allegedly cheated unwitting gamblers out of as much as $7 million through the use of electronic card counting machines and special playing tables.

Earlier in the week, Joseph Lanni, 54, of Staten Island, whom the FBI considers a captain in the Gambino crime family, pleaded guilty to a single count of running an illegal gambling business. Lanni gained notoriety in 2025 when he pleaded guilty to federal charges he was part of a racketeering conspiracy.

Some reputed organized crime figures have rejected plea bargains from federal prosecutors and want to go to trial. They include key Bonanno crime family member Ernest Aiello, of Wantagh, and Matthew Daddino, of Franklin Square, said by the FBI to be a member of the Genovese family. Also deciding for now to fight the case is Chauncey Billups, the head coach of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, who is on administrative leave from his job.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.