The mayor of Rosemont, whose suburb is among three finalists vying to land a casino, is returning a campaign contribution from an alleged mob-linked company after an inquiry by the Chicago Sun-Times and the Better Government Association.
The company, D&P Construction, gave $400 in November 2007 to the Regular Republican Voters League of Leyden Township, which is headed by Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens. In 2001, the Illinois Gaming Board said the company was tied to "individuals who have been identified as known members of organized crime."
Stephens said the Leyden Republican group's treasurer mistakenly deposited D&P's check, which was among hundreds of checks to come in after a fundraiser. "She was almost in tears when I questioned her, 'How did this get through the cracks?' " Stephens said.
The contribution - along with others examined as part of a Sun-Times/BGA analysis - is prompting new questions about an old subject - whether Rosemont is a suitable home for the state's last-available casino license.
In 2004, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan documented ties between Bradley Stephens' father, then-Rosemont Mayor Donald Stephens, and persons connected to reputed mobsters.
D&P's owner, Josephine DiFronzo, did not respond to requests for comment. The company was a focus of a gaming board disciplinary case that stopped Emerald Casino from building a floating gambling barge in Rosemont in 2001. The board eventually revoked Emerald's gaming license, setting the stage for it to be re-bid this year.
Last week, the Chicago Crime Commission encouraged the state board to remove Rosemont from the casino race. "In our view, the inability of the Illinois Gaming Board to address the concerns about alleged mob ties is enough to disqualify their application," said J.R. Davis, the commission's president.
The gaming board's five members plan to award the license to one of three bidders by year's end. Trilliant Gaming, which wants to build in Rosemont, is widely seen as the leading contender. Its $435 million bid is more than double what others are offering to put the casino in Waukegan or Des Plaines.
Jim Wagner, formerly a top FBI mob investigator and gaming board investigations chief, said the $400 from D&P to the Stephens-run political group raises new concerns about Rosemont. "D&P is, to me, a company that has been so often in the news that there should be every attempt to disassociate themselves from that company," said Wagner, who recently stepped down as head of the Chicago Crime Commission. "The problems that are in Rosemont should be enough to disqualify putting the casino in that environment."
Stephens, who became mayor after his father's death last year, said any mob taint to his community is a thing of the past. And he scoffed at the idea he'd risk a lucrative casino project for a $400 political contribution.
He also said he has adopted his father's policy of rejecting campaign contributions from anyone whose integrity has been questioned by the gaming board.
"To keep throwing this stuff up is ridiculous," Stephens said.
The Sun-Times and the BGA examined campaign contributions from people and companies involved in the state board's disciplinary complaint against Emerald. In that March 2001 document, the gaming board said: "The owner of D&P, Josephine DiFronzo, is married to Peter DiFronzo and is the sister-in-law of John DiFronzo, individuals who have been identified as known members of organized crime. Emerald's failure to exercise appropriate supervision resulted in work being performed at the site by D&P."
D&P also had done waste-hauling work in Rosemont, but Donald Stephens severed ties with the company after the gaming board's case was made public. The late mayor also donated to charity thousands of dollars in campaign cash he'd received from the company.
Besides its 2007 contribution to to the Regular Republican Voters League of Leyden Township, D&P gave $1,350 to the Rosemont Voters League on Jan. 17, 2000 and another $1,150 on Jan. 19, 2001.
The Voters League has supported the campaigns of several Rosemont village trustees, including Bradley Stephens before he became mayor, park district commissioners and school board members. Rosemont officials said they believe the organization gave the D&P contributions to charity but don't have records to show that.
D&P's contribution troubles Jay Stewart, the BGA's executive director. "Maybe Mayor Stephens' pledge to not take money from D&P is as sincere as the day is long," Stewart said. "But if this got through the cracks, what else might?"
Thanks to Chris Fusco
Sunday, December 07, 2008
John Gotti's Brother, Vincent, Gets 8 Years in Prison After Failing to Carry Out a Hit
The late John Gotti's brother was hit with an eight-year prison term yesterday for trying to whack a man whom he had accused of fooling around with his wife.
Reputed Gambino soldier Vincent Gotti, 56, previously 'fessed up to putting a contract out on bagel store owner Angelo Mugnolo in May 2003 after telling mob cohorts about the supposed affair.
"I am extremely remorseful for my actions," Vincent told Brooklyn federal Judge Jack Weinstein as his wife sat beside him. "I am very sorry to my wife and my children for the pain I have caused them."
His nephew, Richard Gotti, 41, also was sentenced to eight years behind bars yesterday for orchestrating the botched rubout.
A hit team shot Mugnolo three times outside his house in Howard Beach, but he survived.
Thanks to Kati Cornell
Reputed Gambino soldier Vincent Gotti, 56, previously 'fessed up to putting a contract out on bagel store owner Angelo Mugnolo in May 2003 after telling mob cohorts about the supposed affair.
"I am extremely remorseful for my actions," Vincent told Brooklyn federal Judge Jack Weinstein as his wife sat beside him. "I am very sorry to my wife and my children for the pain I have caused them."
His nephew, Richard Gotti, 41, also was sentenced to eight years behind bars yesterday for orchestrating the botched rubout.
A hit team shot Mugnolo three times outside his house in Howard Beach, but he survived.
Thanks to Kati Cornell
Saturday, December 06, 2008
"Chicago Jane Doe" ID'd as Marlaina Reed and Her Case is to be Featured on America's Most Wanted
Chicago Jane Doe: When AMW first told the story of "Chicago Jane Doe" we knew nothing about her. She was a victim without a name but police in the Windy City were determined as ever to solve her case. With the help of a local dentist, Chicago Police identified Jane Doe as teenager Marlaina Reed. You might remember that Jane Doe had distinctive braces on her teeth and it looked like she had tried to pull them off herself. A Chicago dentist and his receptionist saw sketches in a local professional journal and recognized the young girl and the dental work. They contacted police and a positive identification was made. Windy City detectives are now one step closer to solving Marlaina's case, but they still need your help to find her killer.
Noe Torres: On the night of Sept. 15, 2005, 10-year-old Carlos Perez went to bed knowing that he had a big day ahead of him: it was to be his 11th birthday. That night, in his sleep, Carlos was killed in a hail of gunfire in his bed. The accused shooter, Noe Torres, is still at large, and an accomplice who has already been convicted of the crime -- Edward Salas -- has escaped from a New Mexico jail.
George Perez: Cops in Baltimore, Md. say a bookkeeper there was not only cooking his employer's books, he was placing bets with his employer's money. Police say 32-year-old George Michael Perez embezzled more than $1 million from the company he worked for in order to fund his luxury lifestyle, but when his plan to beat the charges went up in smoke, he hit the road.
Curi Tapia-Martinez: A few short years ago, authorities in North Dakota and Minnesota thought they'd all but solved their methamphetamine crisis, shutting down most of the region's clandestine labs. What no one realized was that Mexican drug cartels were prepared to bring their laboratory-grade product to the market.
Courtenay Savage: On nights when the moon was full, a Florida family was awakened by the sound of gunshots blasting their home and their cars, the shooter sometimes firing into bedrooms where children were sleeping. Now, police say an AMW tipster helped take the woman responsible down.
Ask John Walsh Feature: The AMW Safety Center gets flooded with questions from viewers like you. This week AMW viewer Jennifer Harris from Richmond, VA asks AMW Host John Walsh about how to stay protected at home without overreacting.
Adam Klutz: Deputy Klutz is survived by his parents. Deputy Adam Klutz was shot to death when he responded to a 9-1-1 hang-up call. The suspect, an ex-cop and Iraq War veteran, fled, launching a statewide manhunt, but later killed himself.
Nadia Kersh: Nadia Kersh was last seen leaving her job at the Tria Market in Homeland, Ala. for lunch. Family and friends became alarmed when she didn't return to work, and she failed to pick up her young son from daycare.
Omar Nunes: Police say that when accused father-and-son drug dealing team Calvin and Omar Nunes went to buy crack from their supplier, things didn't go as smoothly as planned. Cops tell us the trio began arguing over money, and all three pulled guns -- but only two of them left the room alive.
Tobechi Onwuhara: The FBI says Nigerian Tobechi Enyinna Onwuhara worked to defraud banks and individuals, including Sen. Strom Thurmond's former chief of staff, and the consummate con man with a seemingly-bottomless bag of tricks managed to steal tens of millions. Now, the feds need your help to catch him.
Michael Wilson: Police in South Carolina are looking for a sex offender who they say is likely to strike again. He's been convicted of sexually assaulting one woman, and cops now want him for the rape of a 15-year-old girl.
Noe Torres: On the night of Sept. 15, 2005, 10-year-old Carlos Perez went to bed knowing that he had a big day ahead of him: it was to be his 11th birthday. That night, in his sleep, Carlos was killed in a hail of gunfire in his bed. The accused shooter, Noe Torres, is still at large, and an accomplice who has already been convicted of the crime -- Edward Salas -- has escaped from a New Mexico jail.
George Perez: Cops in Baltimore, Md. say a bookkeeper there was not only cooking his employer's books, he was placing bets with his employer's money. Police say 32-year-old George Michael Perez embezzled more than $1 million from the company he worked for in order to fund his luxury lifestyle, but when his plan to beat the charges went up in smoke, he hit the road.
Curi Tapia-Martinez: A few short years ago, authorities in North Dakota and Minnesota thought they'd all but solved their methamphetamine crisis, shutting down most of the region's clandestine labs. What no one realized was that Mexican drug cartels were prepared to bring their laboratory-grade product to the market.
Courtenay Savage: On nights when the moon was full, a Florida family was awakened by the sound of gunshots blasting their home and their cars, the shooter sometimes firing into bedrooms where children were sleeping. Now, police say an AMW tipster helped take the woman responsible down.
Ask John Walsh Feature: The AMW Safety Center gets flooded with questions from viewers like you. This week AMW viewer Jennifer Harris from Richmond, VA asks AMW Host John Walsh about how to stay protected at home without overreacting.
Adam Klutz: Deputy Klutz is survived by his parents. Deputy Adam Klutz was shot to death when he responded to a 9-1-1 hang-up call. The suspect, an ex-cop and Iraq War veteran, fled, launching a statewide manhunt, but later killed himself.
Nadia Kersh: Nadia Kersh was last seen leaving her job at the Tria Market in Homeland, Ala. for lunch. Family and friends became alarmed when she didn't return to work, and she failed to pick up her young son from daycare.
Omar Nunes: Police say that when accused father-and-son drug dealing team Calvin and Omar Nunes went to buy crack from their supplier, things didn't go as smoothly as planned. Cops tell us the trio began arguing over money, and all three pulled guns -- but only two of them left the room alive.
Tobechi Onwuhara: The FBI says Nigerian Tobechi Enyinna Onwuhara worked to defraud banks and individuals, including Sen. Strom Thurmond's former chief of staff, and the consummate con man with a seemingly-bottomless bag of tricks managed to steal tens of millions. Now, the feds need your help to catch him.
Michael Wilson: Police in South Carolina are looking for a sex offender who they say is likely to strike again. He's been convicted of sexually assaulting one woman, and cops now want him for the rape of a 15-year-old girl.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
The Chicago Crime Commission Remains Concerned about Rosement's Casino Bid and the Illinois Gaming Board's Transparency
The Chicago Crime Commission remains unconvinced Rosemont is "clean" as the suburb - long the target of mob-influence allegations - tries to land the state's 10th casino again.
The organized crime watchdog group, formed in the days of Al Capone, is coming out today to argue against giving Rosemont's bidder, Trilliant Gaming, the state's last casino license as it also urges gambling regulators to demonstrate more transparency.
"We certainly do not believe Rosemont has earned the trust and confidence of the public at large," said commission CEO J.R. Davis on Wednesday.
Rosemont was rejected by regulators after landing the license in 1999 following allegations of mob ties. The dispute led to years of legal wrangling.
This time, Rosemont officials have made an effort to distance themselves from the current casino bid headed by a former MGM executive.
Davis said Trilliant is led by "responsible business people," but he said he doesn't believe Rosemont has changed since it lost the Emerald Casino license.
Rosemont spokesman Gary Mack called the commission's allegations "nothing new" and he argued the village has been "transparent" in its attempt to land the license.
Trilliant bid $435 million for the license, and it is now being considered by gambling regulators along with bids from Waukegan and neighboring Des Plaines.
Trilliant's bid topped the next highest from Waukegan by more than $200 million.
"We have a new mayor in Rosemont. We have a new bidder," Mack said. "This is a completely different circumstance."
Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens, who succeeded his father after his death, has said he will pass laws banning village employees from working at the casino, village contractors from working for the casino and trustees from gambling at the casino.
Davis called Rosemont's assurances "superficial."
Additionally, Davis said the Illinois Gaming Board should release staff reports on all of the bids for the 10th license. The reports are not traditionally made public.
"The Chicago Crime Commission is gravely concerned with the dead silence of this process," Davis said.
Representatives from the Illinois Gaming Board declined to comment. The gaming board has already heard formal pitches from the remaining three bidders and is scheduled to hear public comment Monday.
Thanks to Joseph Ryan
The organized crime watchdog group, formed in the days of Al Capone, is coming out today to argue against giving Rosemont's bidder, Trilliant Gaming, the state's last casino license as it also urges gambling regulators to demonstrate more transparency."We certainly do not believe Rosemont has earned the trust and confidence of the public at large," said commission CEO J.R. Davis on Wednesday.
Rosemont was rejected by regulators after landing the license in 1999 following allegations of mob ties. The dispute led to years of legal wrangling.
This time, Rosemont officials have made an effort to distance themselves from the current casino bid headed by a former MGM executive.
Davis said Trilliant is led by "responsible business people," but he said he doesn't believe Rosemont has changed since it lost the Emerald Casino license.
Rosemont spokesman Gary Mack called the commission's allegations "nothing new" and he argued the village has been "transparent" in its attempt to land the license.
Trilliant bid $435 million for the license, and it is now being considered by gambling regulators along with bids from Waukegan and neighboring Des Plaines.
Trilliant's bid topped the next highest from Waukegan by more than $200 million.
"We have a new mayor in Rosemont. We have a new bidder," Mack said. "This is a completely different circumstance."
Rosemont Mayor Bradley Stephens, who succeeded his father after his death, has said he will pass laws banning village employees from working at the casino, village contractors from working for the casino and trustees from gambling at the casino.
Davis called Rosemont's assurances "superficial."
Additionally, Davis said the Illinois Gaming Board should release staff reports on all of the bids for the 10th license. The reports are not traditionally made public.
"The Chicago Crime Commission is gravely concerned with the dead silence of this process," Davis said.
Representatives from the Illinois Gaming Board declined to comment. The gaming board has already heard formal pitches from the remaining three bidders and is scheduled to hear public comment Monday.
Thanks to Joseph Ryan
Reputed Mob Bosses, Frank Calabrese Sr, and James Marcello Seek Delay in Sentencing
Two reputed mob bosses convicted of taking part in a murder conspiracy have asked a federal judge to postpone their sentencing.
James Marcello and convicted hit man Frank Calabrese Sr. filed their requests Wednesday with Judge James B. Zagel. Calabrese is due for sentencing Dec. 11 and Marcello Dec. 17. They were convicted at the landmark Operation Family Secrets trial.
Marcello says he needs time to prepare and Calabrese says he needs more time to talk with his lawyer because he has been thrown into "a segregation unit commonly known as 'the hole'" in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
Federal spokesman Randall Samborn had no comment.
James Marcello and convicted hit man Frank Calabrese Sr. filed their requests Wednesday with Judge James B. Zagel. Calabrese is due for sentencing Dec. 11 and Marcello Dec. 17. They were convicted at the landmark Operation Family Secrets trial.
Marcello says he needs time to prepare and Calabrese says he needs more time to talk with his lawyer because he has been thrown into "a segregation unit commonly known as 'the hole'" in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.
Federal spokesman Randall Samborn had no comment.
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