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Feds Get Bookies Money But Wife Is TO Fast lol
By J.M. Lawrence and Franci Richardson Saturday, January 8, 2005 BOSTON HERALD
Investigators seized $40,000 from a secret ``hide'' inside reputed bookmaker Arthur Gianelli's Lynnfield mansion but lost the race to his wife's bank account when she cleared out $65,000 yesterday morning, according to federal prosecutors. Mary Ann Gianelli drained the New Hampshire account at ``eight minutes after 8 a.m.'' following her husband's arrest Thursday night on arson and extortion charges, Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak told a judge yesterday. Wyshak said the cash is subject to federal forfeiture. Gianelli attorney Richard Egbert said the government has no hold on the money because prosecutors never sought a forfeiture order. ``The account in question belongs to Mrs. Gianelli,'' Egbert told the court. Mary Ann's sister is Liz Connolly, the wife of convicted racketeer John J. Connolly Jr., the former FBI agent who handled killer informants James ``Whitey'' Bulger and Stephen ``The Rifleman '' Flemmi. The two families live side-by-side on a Lynnfield cul-de-sac. State police, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents who raided Gianelli's sprawling home Thursday and in March found meticulous gambling ledgers, sources said. ``He didn't miss a beat,'' one source said. ``There's no doubt they had a racket going - him , Connolly, Bulger and Flemmi.'' Arthur Gianelli, 47, and three associates are being held without bail on charges stemming from Gianelli's alleged bid to become the biggest dog in the Canine Corporation. The company owns Big Dog bars in North Reading and Saugus. Investigators believe Gianelli had visions of turning the Route 1 bar into an off-shore betting parlor, according to a source. ``This is a hostile takeover attempt in every sense of the word,'' attorney Michael McCarthy, who represents Big Dog shareholders suing Gianelli, said yesterday. The indictment unsealed yesterday in federal court claims Gianelli, Dennis Albertelli, 52, of Stow; Frank Iacaboni, 60, of Leominster; and former Hell's Angel Deeb Homsi, 44, of Arlington, all conspired to firebomb the North Reading Big Dog at 178 Main St. on Nov. 13, 2003. Wiretaps on Nov. 2, 2003, caught Gianelli apparently expressing concern for staff staying late that night. ``Gotta make sure nobody is in there, you know,'' Gianelli said, according to the indictment. Investigators believe four other Boston-area arson fires are related to Gianelli's bid to pressure Big Dog owners into handing over their shares. Two of those fires occurred at the Sports Grill on Canal Street and at Big Lou's in Revere, according to a source. Iacaboni and Homsi were allegedly caught on tape picking the fire bugs to light the Big Dog fire. The dirty work was derailed when police listening to wiretaps waited at the bar and immediately doused the flames. Sean Slater, 47, of Brooklyn and Michael McCormack, 42, of Arlington were arrested that night and are still awaiting a federal trial
By J.M. Lawrence and Franci Richardson Saturday, January 8, 2005 BOSTON HERALD
Investigators seized $40,000 from a secret ``hide'' inside reputed bookmaker Arthur Gianelli's Lynnfield mansion but lost the race to his wife's bank account when she cleared out $65,000 yesterday morning, according to federal prosecutors. Mary Ann Gianelli drained the New Hampshire account at ``eight minutes after 8 a.m.'' following her husband's arrest Thursday night on arson and extortion charges, Assistant U.S. Attorney Fred Wyshak told a judge yesterday. Wyshak said the cash is subject to federal forfeiture. Gianelli attorney Richard Egbert said the government has no hold on the money because prosecutors never sought a forfeiture order. ``The account in question belongs to Mrs. Gianelli,'' Egbert told the court. Mary Ann's sister is Liz Connolly, the wife of convicted racketeer John J. Connolly Jr., the former FBI agent who handled killer informants James ``Whitey'' Bulger and Stephen ``The Rifleman '' Flemmi. The two families live side-by-side on a Lynnfield cul-de-sac. State police, Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents who raided Gianelli's sprawling home Thursday and in March found meticulous gambling ledgers, sources said. ``He didn't miss a beat,'' one source said. ``There's no doubt they had a racket going - him , Connolly, Bulger and Flemmi.'' Arthur Gianelli, 47, and three associates are being held without bail on charges stemming from Gianelli's alleged bid to become the biggest dog in the Canine Corporation. The company owns Big Dog bars in North Reading and Saugus. Investigators believe Gianelli had visions of turning the Route 1 bar into an off-shore betting parlor, according to a source. ``This is a hostile takeover attempt in every sense of the word,'' attorney Michael McCarthy, who represents Big Dog shareholders suing Gianelli, said yesterday. The indictment unsealed yesterday in federal court claims Gianelli, Dennis Albertelli, 52, of Stow; Frank Iacaboni, 60, of Leominster; and former Hell's Angel Deeb Homsi, 44, of Arlington, all conspired to firebomb the North Reading Big Dog at 178 Main St. on Nov. 13, 2003. Wiretaps on Nov. 2, 2003, caught Gianelli apparently expressing concern for staff staying late that night. ``Gotta make sure nobody is in there, you know,'' Gianelli said, according to the indictment. Investigators believe four other Boston-area arson fires are related to Gianelli's bid to pressure Big Dog owners into handing over their shares. Two of those fires occurred at the Sports Grill on Canal Street and at Big Lou's in Revere, according to a source. Iacaboni and Homsi were allegedly caught on tape picking the fire bugs to light the Big Dog fire. The dirty work was derailed when police listening to wiretaps waited at the bar and immediately doused the flames. Sean Slater, 47, of Brooklyn and Michael McCormack, 42, of Arlington were arrested that night and are still awaiting a federal trial