Two Stamford Men Headed to Federal Prison for Illegal Gambling

Two Stamford men involved in illegal gambling were sentenced on Monday to federal prison. 

According to a release from the US Dept. of Justice, Thomas Uva IV, aka “Little T,” 32, was sentenced to 21 months, followed by three years of supervised release, and John Colello, 54, was sentenced to six months, followed by two years of supervised release. 

Uva and Colello also were ordered to forfeit $100,000 and $1,000, respectively, according to the release.  According to the statement, Uva and Colello were charged along with 18 other individuals with various offenses related to involvement in illegal internet sports bookmaking and illegal card gambling clubs. The charges stemmed from a long-term investigation ledby the FBI Fairfield County Organized Crime Task force and the Stamford Police Department.

Uva, according to the statement, is an alleged associate of the Gambino organized crime family and the investigation, which included the use of court-authorized wiretaps. Further, according to the statement, Uva, Colello and others were involved in a large-scale sports bookmaking operation in which gamblers placed bets with offshore Internet sports-gambling websites, particularlywww.44wager.com based in Costa Rica.