Prosecutors say they dismantled Boston gambling ring

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000 | 9:20 a.m.

Prosecutors said the ring was controlled from a small apartment in the city's North End. During the fall of 1998, court-authorized wiretaps at the apartment uncovered evidence of betting, mostly on football, hockey and basketball games.

"With continued cooperation between police and prosecutors, we will make sure that organized crime does not regain a foothold in Suffolk County," Martin said Monday.

Prosecutors said the bosses of the operation were Anthony J. Gambale, 55, of Boston and Saugus and Robert Beshere, 32, of Winthrop.

"Everyone's innocent. We're all innocent," Gambale said.

There was no telephone listing for a Robert Beshere in Winthrop.

All 27 defendants face arraignment Feb. 24 in Suffolk Superior Court on charges of keeping a place for registering bets, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in state prison, and using a telephone for gaming purposes, which has a maximum penalty of one year. Some defendants will also face conspiracy charges, the prosecutors said.

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