Two Men Charged with Running Organized Crime-Backed Gambling Businesses

Nora R. Dannehy, Acting United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in New Haven has returned a six-count Indictment charging RAUL SUNER, also known as “Sunny,” 48, of Milford, and PHILLIP JOHN BAUCO, 55, of Bridgeport, with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business, and committing violent crimes in aid of racketeering.

The Indictment alleges that SUNER and BAUCO, representing that they had the backing and approval of La Cosa Nostra, engaged in a campaign to takeover certain illegal gambling operations in the Bridgeport area by using threats, violence and intimidation to persuade bookmakers and gamblers to conduct their illegal gambling with the operation run by SUNER and BAUCO. The Indictment alleges that SUNER was an associate of the Gambino Family of La Cosa Nostra and had authority to conduct and run illegal gambling operations in portions of Connecticut, including New Haven and Bridgeport. BAUCO is alleged to have used his business, Auto Town Sales in Stratford, to hold meetings related to the criminal enterprise.

The Indictment alleges that, in one instance, SUNER, aided and abetted by BAUCO, broke a gambler’s leg by striking him with a baseball bat.

The Indictment charges SUNER and BAUCO each with two counts of racketeering and one count of racketeering conspiracy, which carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000, on each count.

The Indictment further charges SUNER and BAUCO each with one count of operating an illegal gambling business, which carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years and a fine of up to $250,000.

Finally, the Indictment charges SUNER with two counts of committing, or attempting to commit, a violent crime in aid of racketeering. BAUCO is charged in one of the counts with aiding and abetting the commission of a violent crime in aid of racketeering. These charges carry a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of up to $250,000.

The Indictment was returned on May 12, 2009, and was ordered unsealed today by United States Magistrate Judge Thomas P. Smith in Hartford during SUNER’s arraignment.

SUNER has been detained since his arrest on March 6, 2008, for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. SUNER pleaded guilty to that charge on October 8, 2008.

BAUCO appeared before Magistrate Judge Smith on May 19, 2009, and was released on a bond secured by his property.

Acting U.S. Attorney Dannehy stressed that an indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. Each defendant is entitled to a fair trial at which it is the Government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with the assistance of the Connecticut State Police and the Milford Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Raymond F. Miller.