03281991 - News Article - Competency hearing set for alleged mob figure

Competency hearing set for alleged mob figure
NWI Times
Mar 28, 1991
http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/competency-hearing-set-for-alleged-mob-figure/article_44f442c9-28ac-5ebb-98a6-2a5060e93ce5.html
HAMMOND - A hearing will be held Monday to determine if one of the defendants charged with extorting money for a purported Chicago crime family should be examined for his competency to stand trial.

A psychiatric examination for Peter A. "Cadillac Pete" Petros, 56, of LaPorte, has been requested by his court-appointed lawyer, John McGrath, who argued in a motion that Petros has suffered from mental illness and may have been suffering from it at the time of the alleged crimes.

U.S. District Court Judge James T. Moody ordered the hearing to determine if the examination is warranted.

Petros was one of 15 people named in a 30-count indictment hailed as the largest organized crime case ever handled by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Alleged "Outfit" South Side mob boss Dominick Palermo, 72, of Orland Park and his aide Nicholas Albert Guzzino, 49, of Chicago Heights also were indicted.

Petros, charged on one count of racketeering, one count of conspiracy and four counts of extortion, has been held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago since December, when he surrendered to federal authorities.

He allegedly committed the crimes in Lake and LaPorte counties, collecting protection money from video game operators Tim Janowsky and Reginald Kinkade between December 1984 and November 1986. Kinkade, convicted of gambling and conspiracy earlier this year, owned Variety Amusement in East Chicago. Janowsky, an FBI informant, was the owner of Geno's Vending in Merrillville.

Six of the defendants in the case have requested a separate trial from eight other defendants who have been charged under the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act and the bulk of the charges. The eight are Palermo; Guzzino; Petros; Bernard J. Morgano, 54, of Valparaiso; Steve Sfouris, 55, a fugitive; Anthony Leone, 51, of Valparaiso; Sam M. Glorioso, 48, of Gary; and Sam Nuzzo Jr., 45, of Merrillville.

The six who face fewer charges contend they cannot get a fair trial if the same jury also hears evidence concerning the activities of the alleged bosses and lieutenants of the organized crime family.

The six who want separate trials are Ned M. Pujo, 51 and his wife, Yolande Martha Pujo, 55, of Portage; Sam Nuzzo Sr., 69, and his son Arthur A. Nuzzo, 33, and daughters Sandra T. Mynes, 43, and Jennifer Kaufman, 37, all of Merrillville.

The indictments, which stem from an eight-year investigation, also named Anthony J. Ottomanelli, 60, of Portage.