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.