While Jeffrey Castardi and Dawn Wolf were serving up Italian and Chinese food at their restaurant, the couple was raking in cash from an illegal gambling operation across town, according to a grand jury indictment.
A grand jury has has indicted the two, who operated Mario ‘n’ Wong’s on East Colfax Avenue, and five others for running a gambling operation out of a South Broadway card club.
Jeffrey Castardi is charged with heading the ring, which engaged in bookmaking, loan sharking, theft, tax evasion, money laundering and unlawful debt collection. Castardi’s wife, Dawn Nancy Wolf, is also charged in the indictment.
“Mr. Castardi was instrumental in the success of the enterprise because he uniquely possessed a pre-existing knowledge and understanding of how a diverse illegal professional gambling operation worked. Castardi acquired this relevant knowledge ….. during his youth and early adult years while he lived and worked in the New York City area,” according to the indictment.
Castardi ran the operation out of the Gin Rummy Club which was located at 2380 South Broadway.
Police closed the club down last year.
Castardi inferred to those he did business with that he was affiliated with the mob, causing some to fear him.
“Witnesses then testified that this bravado also allowed Castardi to position himself and his enterprise in a manner which maximized his efforts to subvert weak businesses and to collect additional money for this enterprise.”
The group ran illegal poker games, booked bets, loaned money and intimidated those who failed to pay debts, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.
“Money which was owed as a result of individuals accumulating sizeable gambling debts was often collected through a complex, persistent and sometimes intimidating system of individual debt collectors, front businesses, and various bank accounts which were all under the control of the enterprise,” according to the indictment.
The group laundered the money by passing it through Mario n’ Wongs bank acount and other accounts.
Other defendants charged with committing at least one count of violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act include James Elterman of Cherry Hills Village and Laura Jean Fouty of Denver.
Three other defendants, Daniel Rieke of Lakewood, Todd Casey of Aurora and David Lettin of Englewood were also charged with various felony counts related to this criminal enterprise.
The group operated from May 2003 through late 2008, according to the indictment.
A 15-month investigation led to the indictment.
