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Gigi Rovito described himself in court documents as a longtime, active member of the Our Lady of Pompeii Shrine in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood
The church does not have a "Man of the Year" award that Rovito claimed to have received in court filings seeking bond
Twenty-two individuals, including Rovito, indicted in the Northwest Indiana sports betting case were set to appear in federal court Thursday
In his motion for release from jail, Capri Ristorante owner and mob-tied Gigi Rovito described himself in court documents as a longtime, active member of the Our Lady of Pompeii Shrine in Chicago’s Little Italy neighborhood, and even received an award for “Man of the Year.”
The Burr Ridge, Illinois celebrity chef made that claim in an effort to get out on bond in the federal organized crime case that resulted in the arrests and indictments of nearly two dozen individuals.
Rovito offered a $1 million cash bond. The judge granted Rovito's motion for release from jail, and put him on an electronic monitor.
"He and his wife are active members of Our Lady of Pompeii Church, where he was named Man of the Year," the filing said.
The court motion even included a photo of Rovito and his wife with the pastor.
A new motion filed last week asks that Rovito be allowed out every Sunday for three hours to attend Mass.
"Mr. Rovito is a practicing Catholic and a longtime member of his parish community. The regular practice of his faith, including attendance at Sunday Mass, is a central part of his life and is important to his spiritual well-being."
Prosecutors did not object.
That church, however, tells the local NBC Chicago affiliate Rovito has never been a member of that congregation.
From NBC Chicago:
An official of the parish told NBC 5 Investigates that Rovito's church involvement amounts to writing an annual check, and that it's laughable he claims to be a weekly parishioner because quote "he never comes to church. He's never seen in church."
And as for that "Man of the Year Award" Rovito claims in court documents to have received? He didn't get it according to the parish, because they don't have such an award.
Late last month, the FBI announced the arrests of 22 individuals as part of “Operation Porterhouse Parlay.” An 87-page indictment alleges the defendants were involved in a sprawling illegal sports betting ring that stretched from New York to Los Angeles and Puerto Rico, allegedly using threats and intimidation to maintain control of the operation. The business ran primarily out of the Northwestern region of Indiana, including Hammond. Burr Ridge is approximately a half hour from Hammond.
James “Jimmy the Greek” Gerodemos of Schererville, Indiana, along with Dean “Dean Gem” Gialamas, are said to have been the masterminds of the operation. Gerodemos also has ownership in two restaurants, Gino’s Steakhouse and Paragon, both of which are located in Northwest Indiana.
The indictment goes on to allege that employees of Gerodemos' restaurants also facilitated the operation through collection and distribution of revenue with agents, bookies and bettors, ranging from hundreds of dollars to nearly $50,000. According to the indictment, lines of credit were provided so bettors can begin betting immediately. And for those with debt not paid off, prosecutors say the organization threatened them and tracked them down.
The organization’s members used money from losing bettors to pay the winners and the leaders of the Gerodemos Gambling Organization. If a payment couldn’t be made to a winner, the Gerodemos Gambling Organization would cover the payment, according to the indictment.
Members of the gambling operation communicated regularly about how much money a bettor owed (M or minus) and how much it owed to a bettor (P or plus). They also met with their agents, bookies and some bettors in person, inside public buildings or in parking lots, to collect or deliver payments for the sports bets, according to the indictment.
It has since been revealed that Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez reportedly spent more than $72,000 at one of Gerodemos' restaurants and allegedly misspent some public funds there, but he has not been charged with a crime.
All twenty-two of the defendants were set to appear in federal court in Hammond on gambling and extortion charges on Thursday (May 14).
- Jagajeet Chiba, Gambling911.com
