Court covers defense costs - Petros faces varied charges
Post-Tribune (IN)
December 29, 1990
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/resources/doc/nb/news/108530DAF31AC19D?p=AWNB
The government will pay for the defense of Peter "Cadillac Pete" Petros, a longtime area gambler and alleged enforcer for the crime syndicate.
Petros told the U.S. District Court Friday that he is unable to hire a lawyer. U.S. Magistrate Andrew P. Rodovich appointed Crown Point attorney John M. McGrath to represent Petros.
McGrath is a former Lake County deputy prosecutor. McGrath will be paid $60 per hour for courtroom work and $40 per hour for out-of-court work.
Petros, 56, recently of Cicero, Ill., is a longtime LaPorte resident. Last week Rodovich, on a motion by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Thill, ordered Petros held without bond.
"The government has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that Petros is a danger to the community," Rodovich said. "The government has introduced evidence showing that Petros has been involved in repeated acts of extortion since 1984."
One of the allegations against Petros is that he collected a "street tax" for the crime syndicate from Reginald Kinkade, one of the major suppliers of video poker machines in Lake County in the mid-1980s. He also is charged with unlawful gambling.
Kinkade was convicted last summer on charges of paying protection money to former Lake County Sheriff Rudy Bartolomei and his chief deputy, Michael Mokol, who was convicted as well.
Petros worked for reputed Chicago street boss Dominick "Tootsie" Palermo, 72, of Orland Park, Ill., and his top aide, Nicholas "Nicky" Guzzino, 49, of Chicago Heights, Ill.
Rodovich last week also found Palermo and Guzzino to be dangers to the community and denied both bond. Palermo, Guzzino and Petros entered not guilty pleas during their arraignments Friday.
Also pleading not guilty was Anthony J. "Potatoes" Ottomanelli, 60, of Portage. He is charged with gambling. Merrillville attorney Chris Gielow is representing Ottomanelli.
Eleven other defendants named in the same indictment will be arraigned next Friday.
They include Sam Nuzzo Sr. and his sons and daughters, Sam Nuzzo Jr., Arthur A. Nuzzo, Sandra T. Mynes and Jennifer Kaufman, all of Merrillville. They are the alleged leaders of the sports betting operation in Lake County.
Others under indictment are Bernard "Snooky" Morgano, 54, of Valparaiso, the alleged street boss in Northwest Indiana; Sam "Frog" Glorioso, 48, of Gary; Steve Sfouris, 55, of Munster; and Ned Pujo, 51, and Yolande Pujo, 55, both of Portage.
Anthony Leone, 51, of Valparaiso, also is charged. He is serving a prison term for operating an illegal lottery in Gary. Sfouris is a fugitive reportedly in Greece, the FBI said. The government will seek extradition.
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