Mastronardo brothers sentenced in gambling case

The son-in-law of former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo was sentenced to house arrest and probation in connection with a multimillion-dollar sports gambling ring.

Joseph V. Mastronardo, of Huntingdon Valley, was sentenced to six months of house arrest, followed by more than six years of probation. His brother, John Mastronardo, of Blue Bell, was sentenced to up to 23 months in prison, followed by probation.

Joseph Mastronardo's wife, Joanna, is Rizzo's daughter.

In the sentence handed down Monday, Montgomery County Court Judge William Furber also ordered the Mastronardo brothers each to pay $2,000 in fines, plus court costs. Each pleaded guilty last year to bookmaking and conspiracy, both misdemeanor charges.

Prosecutors announced last May that they had seized $2.7 million from the Mastronardos, who were arrested after police learned of their sports-gambling operation through wiretaps. The brothers took bets through a Web site, authorities said. - AP