12291990 - News Article - Alleged mob members file innocent please - Three face gambling

Alleged mob members file innocent please
Three face gambling
NWI Times
Dec 29, 1990
http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/alleged-mob-members-file-innocent-please-three-face-gambling/article_6b568df6-377e-565e-b6e7-61e76f25e3f6.html
HAMMOND - Three reputed members of a Chicago-based crime syndicate Friday pleaded innocent to charges of racketeering in connection with illegal gambling operations in the Chicago south suburbs and Northwest Indiana.

Alleged mob boss Dominick "Tootsie" Palermo and aide Nicholas "Nicky" Guzzino are being represented by well-known Chicago criminal lawyer Patrick Tuite, who at Friday's arraignment entered innocent pleas for both men to all 29 counts of the indictment.

Palermo, 72, of Orland Park and Guzzino, 49, of Chicago Heights, were ordered held without bail Dec. 21 along with Peter "Cadillac Pete" Petros, 49, of Chicago Heights, who also entered an innocent plea.

Wearing blue prison jumpsuits, the three were escorted before U.S. Magistrate Andrew Rodovich from the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago while their families looked on from the front row.

Their indictments follow an eight-year federal investigation into sports betting and high-stakes gambling operations in Lake County. The probe focused on the "street tax" the so-called South Side "Outfit" crime family allegedly collected from bookmakers and gamblers. Fifteen people were named in the indictment announced Dec. 18.

Ten other defendants also paraded before Rodovich, entering innocent pleas or requesting a continuance. The two remaining defendants who did not appear are Steve Sfouris, 55, of Munster and Anthony Leone, 51, of Valparaiso.

Leone, who is charged with racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and extortion, did not appear Friday because he is in prison serving a five-year sentence that started in December 1988. Federal prosecutor Michael Thill said the sentence stems from racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and illegal gambling charges.

Sfouris, Thill said, is still a fugitive and believed to be in Greece. He faces racketeering conspiracy, illegal gambling and interstate travel in aid of racketeering charges.

Nine of the remaining 10 were granted continuances. The following are to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Jan. 4: Bernard "Snooky" Morgano, 54, of Valparaiso; father and sons Sam Nuzzo Sr., 69, Sam Nuzzo Jr., 45, and Arthur Nuzzo, 33, all of Merrillville; sisters Sandra Mynes, 43, and Jennifer Kaufman, 37, both of Merrillville; husband and wife Ned Pujo, 51, and Yolande "Kim" Pujo, 55, both of Portage; and Sam "Frog" Glorioso, 48, of Gary.

Anthony "Potatoes" Ottomanelli, 60, of Portage pleaded innocent to charges of conducting an illegal gambling business. If convicted, he faces five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each count.

Petros faces 120 years in prison for alleged racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and extortion; Guzzino is looking at more than 100 years on the same charges; and Palermo faces 70 years for alleged racketeering, racketeering conspiracy, operation of an illegal gambling business and interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises. Each also faces a $250,000-per-count fine.