Gamblers receive prison terms
Post-Tribune (IN)
April 25, 1992
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Three longtime area gamblers with ties to the crime syndicate, including a Ross Township tavern owner, were sentenced to prison Friday.
The three were among 15 defendants indicted in late 1990 as a result of the most massive investigation into the crime syndicate even in Northwest Indiana. Two of the three were convicted in August 1991. The third pleaded guilty.
U.S. District Judge James T. Moody sentenced Ned M. Pujo, 52, of Portage; Sam "Frog" Glorioso, 50, of Gary, and Peter "Cadillac Pete" Petros, 57, formerly of Gary.
Glorioso was sentenced for crimes committed before and after new federal sentencing guidelines took affect Nov. 1, 1987. He will have to serve more than six years of a sentence of about 11 years.
Glorioso was imprisoned upon conviction but was freed because of family medical problems. He must report to prison June 1.
Glorioso is a longtime area gambler and one of those who collected a street tax on gambling operations for the crime syndicate. He was a U.S. Steel employee at the time of his indictment.
Pujo, the owner of the Beer Barrel Restaurant and Lounge, 4717 E. Lincoln Highway, Ross Township, will have to serve about 15 months of his 18-month sentence under the new federal guidelines. He also was fined $30,000. Pujo ran a football and basketball parlay card operation.
Pujo pleaded to illegal gambling charges. In exchange for his plea, the U.S. attorney's office dismissed gambling charges against his wife, Yolande Pujo, 56. Pujo reports to prison June 1.
Petros was given about 10 years under the combined guidelines and will have to serve almost six years. He too is a longtime gambler and collector for the crime syndicate.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Thill asked Moody to impose substantial sentences. FBI special agents James Cziperle and Robert Hadrick headed the eight-year investigation.
Pujo and Glorioso said they were sorry for what they had done. Petros didn't address the court prior to sentencing.
The sentencing of Sam Nuzzo Jr., 46, of Merrillville, was continued until May 1. His sentencing was delayed when Moody questioned whether Nuzzo's culpability could be increased because he was considered a manager or organizer. Gary attorney Scott L. King, representing Nuzzo, said he wasn't prepared to argue that point Friday.
Nuzzo ran the area's largest sports betting operation. His father, Sam Nuzzo Sr.; his brother, Arthur Nuzzo, and his sisters, Sandra Mynes and Jennifer Kaufman, previously were sentenced to a year in prison for their roles in the betting operation.
Sentences
Sam Glorioso of Gary - 11 years
Ned M. Pugo of Portage - 18 months, $30,000 fine
Peter Petros, formerly of Gary - 10 years
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