FBI offers gambling evidence
NWI Times
Aug 7, 1991
nwitimes.com/uncategorized/fbi-oers-gambling-evidence/article_7e7741db-005e-5af0-9774-0149de53bd8f.html
HAMMOND - Thousands of dollars, betting slips and gambling paraphernalia confiscated in raids of local businesses and residences in 1987 were paraded in court Tuesday as evidence of the gambling empire the government alleges the six men on trial controlled through threats of violence.
FBI agents testified Tuesday to raids in late November 1987 at the home of Arthur Nuzzo and his father, Sam Nuzzo Sr., in Merrillville.
Also among the raids were searches of Anthony "Potatoes" Ottomanelli's home and of two businesses, Roma Pizzeria in Gary and the Beer Barrel Tavern in Merrillville.
The tavern is owned by Ned Pujo, who along with his wife Yolanda will face federal gambling charges in a separate trial.
Sam Nuzzo Sr. and his four children, Arthur, Jennifer Kaufman, Sandy Mynes and Sam Jr., and Ottomanelli were among the 15 indicted last December. All but Sam Nuzzo Jr. have pleaded guilty to running an illegal gambling business.
Nuzzo Jr. faces more serious charges and is standing trial with five other men the government said conspired to run an illegal gambling business for the Chicago "Outfit" and extorted money from other operators of illegal gambling establishments in Lake and LaPorte counties.
FBI agents also testified to meetings Nuzzo Jr. had with another co-defendant, Bernard "Snooky" Morgano, who met with Nuzzo at his tavern, Hydad's in Merrillville.
During one such meeting, FBI Special Agent Robert Hadrick said, he overheard Morgano and Nuzzo talking March 10, 1987 at Hydad's, quoting Morgano as saying, "The guy at the Duchess had been ... him out of his contribution but he didn't want to be a hard guy about it."
The owner of the former Duchess Lounge in Gary, Steve "Bozo" Sfouris, also was charged in the same indictment but is believed to have fled to his native Greece to avoid prosecution. Sfouris ran a highly lucrative barbooth, a Greek dice game, in Hammond and later East Chicago.
FBI agents testified Tuesday that they saw Sfouris with a 1.5-inch-thick wad of money June 26 when he met at a local grocery store with Anthony Leone, another defendant in the case who has pleaded guilty and will testify for the government.
Defense lawyers continued their questioning of the meaning of bits and pieces of conversation FBI agents testified they heard during months of surveillance. One FBI agent admitted the few sentences she overheard were taken out of context of the entire conversation.
Also on trial are the reputed southern territorial "Outfit" boss Dominick Palermo, 73, of Orland Park and his alleged underboss, Nicholas "Nicky" Guzzino of Chicago Heights; Peter "Cadillac Pete" Petros of Chicago and Sam Glorioso of Gary.
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