06181991 - News Article - Outfit underlings won't be tried with bosses

Outfit underlings won't be tried with bosses
Times Staff Report
NWI Times
Jun 18, 1991
http://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/outfitunderlingswontbetriedwithbosses/
article_e1ef717894c75a379d6c9e5259171d09.html
HAMMOND - Seven defendants charged with running illegal gambling operations for a Chicago crime family will not be prosecuted this summer with their alleged bosses, a federal judge ruled.

U.S. District Court Judge James Moody separated the seven from eight other defendants, the alleged bosses and aides who face more complex and serious charges such as racketeering and extortion.

The 15 were indicted last December following an eight-year federal probe into sports betting and high-stakes gambling operations in Lake County. The 31-count indictment carries charges of running for the Chicago "Outfit" a sports betting and high-stakes gambling network in Lake County, and extorting a so-called street tax from area gambling operations.

The seven charged with conducting an illegal gambling operation will go to trial July 22, the original trial date of all 15 defendants. The remaining eight defendants, including alleged Chicago South Side boss Dominick "Tootsie" Palermo, will go to court Aug. 12, Moody ruled.

The seven facing gambling charges, which carry a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, are: Sam Nuzzo Sr., 60, his three children, Arthur A. Nuzzo, 33, Sandra T. Mynes, 43, and Jennifer Kaufman, 37, all of Merrillville; Anthony J. Ottomanelli, 60, of Portage; and husband and wife Ned M. Pujo, 51, and Yolande Martha Pujo, 55, both of Portage.

The other eight, who face much longer prison terms and potential fines totaling millions, are: Palermo, 72, of Orland Park and his alleged aide Nicholas "Nicky" Guzzino, 49, of Chicago Heights; Peter "Cadillac Pete" Petros, 49, of Chicago Heights; Bernard "Snooky" Morgano, 54, of Valparaiso; Anthony Leone, 51, of Valparaiso; Sam M. Glorioso, 48, of Gary; and Sam Nuzzo Jr., 45, of Merrillville.

Steve Sfouris, 55, formerly of Munster, who is still a fugitive and believed to have escaped to his native Greece, also faces an Aug. 12 trial date.

06121991 - News Articles - Judge splits mob-gambling cases - First trial set to start in July

Judge splits mob-gambling cases
First trial set to start in July
Post-Tribune (IN)
June 12, 1991
http://infoweb.newsbank.com.proxy.portagelibrary.info/resources/doc/nb/news/10852CAE046303A2?p=AWNB
The federal government's indictment of 15 reputed gamblers and members of the crime syndicate turned into two cases Tuesday when U.S. District Judge James T. Moody ordered two trials.

The first trial begins July 22 and the second Aug. 12.

To be tried first are Sam Nuzzo Sr., his son, Arthur Nuzzo, and his two daughters, Sandra Mynes and Jennifer Kaufman, all of Merrillville; Anthony Ottomanelli of Portage and Ned and Yolande Pujo of Portage. Each faces a variety of gambling charges.

Slated for trial Aug. 12 are Dominick Palermo of Orland Park, Ill., Nicholas Guzzino of Chicago Heights, Ill., Bernard Morgano of Valparaiso, Anthony Leone of Valparaiso, Sam Glorioso of Gary, Peter Petros of Cicero, Ill., Sam Nuzzo Jr. of Merrillville and Steve Sfouris of Munster.

Each is charged with conspiracy or racketeering.

Palermo is the reputed head of the crime syndicate's gambling operations on Chicago's South Side and Northwest Indiana. The case centers on a street tax collected from local gamblers.

The Nuzzo family heads the sports betting operation in Northwest Indiana.

Sam Nuzzo, his brother, Arthur Nuzzo, and his two sisters are being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago.

The U.S. attorney's office, with information collected by the FBI, won its request for pretrial detention in May after proving that all four continued the sports betting operation after being indicted.

Palermo, Guzzino and Petros also are being held pending trial because they are considered a threat to the community.

Sfouris fled to his native Greece after being indicted.

Leone is in a federal prison after being convicted of charges he operated an illegal lottery in Northwest Indiana.

At the time of the December 1990 indictment, federal authorities said it was the most significant indictment ever in Northwest Indiana involving the crime syndicate and gambling.

Ottomanelli returned Sunday from a vacation in Las Vegas, Nev., according to court records. U.S. Magistrate granted the motion to allow him to leave the area.

Chicago attorney Kevin Milner, who represents Palermo and Guzzino, filed a motion Monday seeking a change of venue for his two clients and Morgano because of pretrial publicity.

Moody hasn't acted on the motion.