03191991 - News Article - Judge to rule on attorney's status - Ex-prosecutor hired in racketeering case

Judge to rule on attorney's status 
Ex-prosecutor hired in racketeering case
Post-Tribune (IN)
March 19, 1991
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/resources/doc/nb/news/10852C34C97949FE?p=AWNB
U.S. District Judge James T. Moody is expected to rule this week whether a former government prosecutor will be allowed to represent two alleged members of the organized crime syndicate under indictment on racketeering and extortion charges.

Moody heard testimony Friday on a motion by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Thill that the Chicago law firm headed by Patrick Tuite not be allowed to represent the two alleged racketeers.

The government contends that Kevin Milner, an assistant U.S. attorney until he joined Tuite's firm in April 1990, signed a government request in June 1987 for an extension of the pen register of the telephone belonging to Bernard "Snooky" Morgano. A pen register records the origin and duration of incoming calls for a telephone number.

Morgano is one of 15 alleged syndicate members and gamblers named in the indictment.

Milner is representing Dominick "Tootsie" Palermo, 72, of Orland Park, Ill., and Nicholas "Nicky" Guzzino, 49, of Chicago Heights, Ill. Palermo is the reputed head of the crime syndicate's operations in Chicago's south suburbs and Northwest Indiana. Guzzino is alleged to be Palermo's top lieutenant.

Milner acknowledged that it is his signature on the request for the extension of the pen register, but said he wasn't involved in the investigation and doesn't recall signing the request.

Milner said he probably signed the request because he was the only assistant U.S. attorney around the office at the time a signature was needed.

James Cziperle, an FBI agent, and John Evon, who at the time was a member of the Chicago Strike Force on Organized Crime, both testified that Milner was not a part of the investigation.

Moody gave the government until Monday to make a written response to Milner's motion to quash the government's attempt to have him removed from the case. The indictment last December culminated an eight-year investigation into the crime syndicate and the "street tax" it extorted from longtime gamblers in Lake and Porter counties.

Palermo, Guzzino and Peter "Cadillac Pete" Petros, 56, of Cicero, Ill., formerly of LaPorte, are being held without bond.

The other defendants are Anthony Leone, 49, of Valparaiso; Sam "Frog" Glorioso, 48, of Gary; Steve Sfouris, 55, of Munster; Anthony "Potatoes" Ottomanelli, 60, of Portage; Ned Pujo, 51, and Yolande Pujo, 55, of Portage; and Sam Nuzzo Sr., 69, of Merrillville, and his four children, Sam Nuzzo Jr., 45, Arthur Nuzzo, 33, Sandra Mynes, 43, and Jennifer Kaufman, 37, all of Merrillville. Sfouris has fled to his native Greece.