Bond denied in mob probe
Trio held until trial on illegal
NWI Times
May 3, 1991
http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/bond-denied-in-mob-probe-trio-held-until-trial-on/article_00a8b8cc-fd2f-53f4-ad42-c1fe06136875.html
HAMMOND - A federal magistrate Thursday ordered the detention of three Merrillville family members after testimony that they allegedly continued to run a gambling operation, the same offense for which they were indicted last December.
U.S. Magistrate Andrew P. Rodovich deferred a decision on the detention of a sister, Jennifer Kaufman, 37, until prosecutors can get court permission to reveal new evidence against her.
Sam Nuzzo Jr., 44; his brother, Arthur Nuzzo, 33; and another sister Sandra Mynes, 43, will be detained at the Metropolitan Correction Center in Chicago until their trial July 22. Their lawyers said they would appeal the decision to revoke their clients' bonds.
The four are among 15 area residents, including the alleged South Side boss of the Chicago "Outfit" crime family, Dominick Palermo and his aide, Nicholas Guzzino, who were named in a 31-count racketeering, extortion and gambling indictment.
Their rearrest Tuesday follows the execution of 30 search warrants and wiretaps of their homes and others that have become targets of the latest probe launched by the FBI. The probe has led agents to investigate alleged gambling operations in Las Vegas, California, Texas and the Dominican Republic and a horse betting operation in East Chicago.
More than $22,000 was recovered from the homes of the Nuzzo family, in addition to several guns, betting slips, notebooks and sports schedules.
The largest amount of cash, $15,730, was found in the Mynes' home. Her lawyer, Martin Kinney, said some of the cash was from Hi-Dads tavern in Merrillville, a business partially owned by Mynes' husband, and money for their son's college education.
An alleged amount totalling $71,000, alluded to in telephone conversations tapped by the FBI, was not found in the Mynes' home.
FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Robert Pertuso said he could not talk about the new investigation or comment on whether new charges are anticipated.
All four were charged in the December indictment with one count of running an illegal gambling business. Sam Nuzzo Jr. faces an additional charge of racketeering and two counts of extortion.
The first indictment against the Nuzzo family, however, did not dissuade the four from continuing the same activities, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Thill.
"The indictment Dec. 18 did not slow them down; not at all," Thill said. "There is nothing this court can do short of detention that can slow these four down."
Rodovich agreed, saying he believed the government presented evidence that the four had committed crimes and no combination of conditions of release would prevent them from breaking the law.
The search warrants and information from wiretaps took investigators to the homes of the four defendants, including the home of Sam Nuzzo Sr., where Arthur Nuzzo apparently was living.
Sam Nuzzo Sr. was charged with conducting an illegal gambling business in the December indictment, but no evidence was presented that he was running a gambling business now.
FBI Agent Vernice Simon testified that agents also searched this week the home of James Schipani, who allegedly ran a betting operation from El Cerrito, Calif. There, they found $19,000 in cash and a large volume of betting receipts and gambling paraphernalia. The Nuzzos allegedly placed bets through Schipani.
The investigation of the Nuzzo family also led investigators to search an apartment belonging to Kenneth Wright, 706 Elmer Ave., Apt. 12C, Griffith, where agents found $22,000 in cash, a $70,000 certificate of deposit in the name of Kenneth or Barbara Wright, notebooks with names and the amount owed, and a gun.
Agents also searched the home of Marlaine Butler, 1415 Second St., Hobart, where investigators seized $3,800 in cash and sports game books.
Telephone numbers discovered in the Butler home led investigators to search a house at 871 W. Chicago Ave., East Chicago, where a horse betting operation allegedly was run. Investigators found tip boards, betting slips, calculators and names with amounts.
Conversations from wiretaps revealed that Arthur Nuzzo has talked about removing Lee Mandic, who allegedly was running a barbut game for the Nuzzo family in Gary . Simon testified that Nuzzo discussed with a man named "Al" removing Mandic because he was scaring away the customers.
A barbut game, a Greek dice game, was one of the gambling operations allegedly run by the Palermo organization and the subject of the December indictment. The alleged operator of that game, Steve Sfouris, 55, formerly of Munster, is still a fugitive and is believed to be living in his native Greece.
Other defendants are: Bernard Morgano, 54, of Valparaiso; Anthony Leone, 51, of Valparaiso; Peter Petros, 56, of Chicago; Sam Glorioso, 48, of Gary; Anthony J. Ottomanelli, 60, of Portage; and husband and wife, Ned M. Pujo, 51, and Yolande Martha Pujo, 55, both of Portage.
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