Final answer:
Expenses from illegal activities, including bribes and kickbacks, are not deductible for tax purposes, meaning Vella's total deductible expenses would be $0 for his illegal gambling establishment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to which expenses are deductible for tax purposes within the context of an illegal operation. As a general rule, expenses related to illegal activities are not deductible for tax purposes under the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Therefore, expenses like rent, bribes, travel expenses, utilities, wages, payroll taxes, property insurance, and illegal kickbacks wouldn’t typically be considered deductible. The only exception might be the cost of goods sold, which can sometimes be deducted even if the business is illegal. But specific expenses like rent, bribes, and kickbacks are definitely not deductible.