Vets' clubs fronted vice-U.S.

April 26, 2002

BY JANET RAUSA FULLER STAFF REPORTER

Veterans halls typically function as homes away from home where members can gather for a chat or a cocktail.

But for seven years, 11 Italian American War Veterans posts in the Chicago area were used as fronts for an illegal gambling operation run out of a Northlake bingo hall that took in more than $3.2 million, the U.S. attorney's office charged Thursday in a 40-count indictment.

Behind the scheme, prosecutors say, are 10 men with Chicago ties--several of whom served as past officers of the Italian American War Veterans group.

The men made the money by running illegal bingo games, pull tab games and raffles at the Grand Palace Bingo Hall in Northlake between 1992 and 1999, purportedly on behalf of the local veterans posts, according to the indictment.

The men fudged tax returns to hide the profits and used "threats, violence and intimidation to discourage witnesses" in the case, the indictment states.

The men face charges of racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy, tax fraud conspiracy and filing false tax returns.

Those named in the indictment are Philip J. Cozzo, 44, of Chicago, who allegedly served as day-to-day manager of the Northlake bingo hall; William B. Shlifka, 64, of Carol Stream, who allegedly devised the plan to use the veterans posts as fronts; Steven V. Mariani, 77, of Bloomingdale, a former national commander of the group who persuaded officials of the local posts to get involved in the gambling operation; Carmen V. Trombetta, 74, of Las Vegas; Fuat "Frank" Useni, 44, of Bloomingdale; James A. Sarno Sr., 69, of Park Ridge; Rosario DiMarco, 76, of Des Plaines; Sam Lenoci, 77, of Wood Dale; Michael Riccio, 76, of Bloomingdale, and James Prebis, 33, of Carol Stream.

Convictions carry maximum penalties ranging from three to 20 years in prison.