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Anthony Ciulla, later Tony Capra (c. 1943 – June 6, 2003) was an American criminal, convicted of bribing jockeys and Race fixing horse races. He was connected to the Boston-based Winter Hill Gang and later testified against several members of the organization.
Ciulla was able to influence jockeys through a combination of cash bribes, some as high as $10,000, and physical intimidation. When bribes failed, he used a combination of physical intimidation and his connections to the Boston-based Winter Hill Gang.
He soon expanded his operations throughout the Eastern and Midwestern United States, although he was primarily active in the New York area. Ciulla often bribed jockeys who rode the betting favorite, and instructed them not to win the race. Ciulla then bet money on the long shots, with a chance of bigger payouts.
Ciulla was convicted of fixing thoroughbred races in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and was sentenced to four to six years in prison. Ciulla agreed to cooperate with the United States Department of Justice in exchange for immunity, relocation and a new identity.
In November 1978, Ciulla became a major witness in the federal government's investigation into horse racing. He then entered United States Federal Witness Protection Program under the new name Tony Capra. While on trial, Ciulla admitted to a number of crimes, including racing under assumed names, tax evasion and bribing jockeys with cocaine. His testimony proved key to the conviction of several jockeys and trainers, ending their careers. Ciulla implicated mob boss Whitey Bulger and his partner Stephen Flemmi in the horse fixing ring, but the two had recently become informants for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and were not prosecuted.
In 1992, Ciulla was arrested at his home in Newport Beach, California and was reportedly awaiting extradition to Switzerland on charges related to an alleged investment scam.
Ciulla reportedly died of a heart attack on June 6, 2003, in Revere, Massachusetts.
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