01051991 - News Article - Seven more plead innocent to mob-related charges

Seven more plead innocent to mob-related charges
NWI Times
Jan 5, 1991
http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/seven-more-plead-innocent-to-mob-related-charges/article_227f080a-c809-506c-8e2a-ecd495f30198.html
HAMMOND - Seven defendants pleaded innocent Friday to charges they worked with a Chicago-based crime family to extort money and direct illegal gambling in Chicago's southern suburbs and Northwest Indiana.

Only two of the 15 people charged in a 29-count indictment have yet to be arraigned. The seven who entered pleas Friday before U.S. District Court Magistrate Andrew P. Rodovich have been released on bond.

The indictments unveiled last month resulted from an eight-year federal investigation into local sports betting and high-stakes gambling operations.

The probe focused on the "street tax" the so-called Chicago "Outfit" crime family allegedly collected from bookmakers and gamblers.

Entering innocent pleas Friday were: Bernard J. "Snooky" Morgano, 54, of Valparaiso; Sam Nuzzo Sr., 69, of Merrillville; Sam Nuzzo Jr., 45, of Merrillville; Arthur A. Nuzzo, 33, of Merrillville; sisters Sandra T. Mynes, 43, and Jennifer Kaufman, 37, both of Merrillville; and husband and wife Ned Pujo, 51, and Yolande "Kim" Pujo, 55, both of Portage.

Alleged mob boss Dominick "Tootsie" Palermo, his aide Nicholas "Nicky" Guzzino and associate Peter "Cadillac Pete" Petros pleaded innocent during their arraignment last week. Anthony "Potatoes" Ottomanelli, 60, of Portage, pleaded innocent to charges of conducting an illegal gambling business.

Palermo, 72, of Orland Park, Guzzino, 49, of Chicago Heights, and Petros, 49, of Chicago Heights, were ordered held until their trial at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago.

Sam M. "Frog" Glorioso, 48, of Gary, was scheduled to be arraigned Friday, but was not because his lawyer could not be present. Anthony Leone, 51, of Valparaiso, who is also charged, is serving a five-year sentence that started December 1988. The remaining defendant, Steve Sfouris, 55, of Munster, remains a fugitive. Officials believe he has fled to Greece.

Petros faces 120 years in prison for alleged racketeering, racketeering conspiracy and extortion; Guzzino is looking at 115 years on the same charges, plus charges for operating an illegal gambling business and interstate travel in aid of racketeering enterprises; 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 more than $1 million in fines.