Apr.02, 2010

PHILADELPHIA - It's a case that has grabbed a lot of attention since it brought the feds and their shovels to a Montgomery County mansion.

We're talking about the case against brothers Joseph and John Mastronardo and the search that has turned up millions of dollars.

Now, they're facing gambling and money-laundering charges, authorities say.

The Philadelphia Inquirer's George Anastasia joined "Good Day" on Friday morning to talk about the case with which he's very familiar .

Anastasia explained that the brothers have been gentlemen gamblers 20 or 30 years in the Philadelphia area with a multimillion gaming operation. That was the focus of the investigation.

And Anastasia said sources tell him the authorities dug up about $1 million that was hidden in the house and on the grounds.

Actually, 46 search warrants were issued, and the total haul from all of those searches was $2 million, Anastasia said.

"This guy has always operated as a gambler. I mean, everybody knows he's a gambler. Thirty years he's been doing this, and obviously he's done very well if you look at his house," Anastasia said.

Often such investigations include wire taps, and Anastasia reported that four years ago the Mastronardos were arrested after authorities seized $2.7 million. They worked out a deal where they plead guilty to lesser charges and basically gave up the money.

"So, if you look at it that way, if they were willing to give up $2.7 (million), what are they earning?" Anastasia said. "And that's the thought process here."

Gentleman gamblers aren't your typical bookies who come after you over $100 bets, Anastasia said. These two brothers have a reputation of, if you renege on a bet, simply saying people couldn't bet with them anymore.

Could their wealthy clients, who are said to include some sports personalities, be charged?

"Usually gamblers – the guys who are placing bets – are not charged. If you remember the whole Rick Tocchet thing, the guys placing the bets were not jammed up. This is a situation where these guys offer a service to people who don't want to go to the wise guys, who don't want to go hang on a corner and put down a bet. So, they're the upper end of this business, and it' a multimillion-dollar business."

Why do they get away with it? Anastasia said it's a question of law enforcement resource allocation, the fact that these guys stay in the shadows, not calling a lot of attention to themselves, and it's not a priority until it reaches a certain level.