Burr Ridge Restaurateur's Release Terms Loosened, Faces Gambling Charges
A Burr Ridge restaurateur's release conditions were loosened after his attorney argued he had shown flawless compliance with bond terms.Summary
The release terms for a Burr Ridge restaurateur named Rovito were loosened after his attorney, Todd Pugh, argued that Rovito had shown "unblemished compliance" with his $1 million bond conditions. Pugh emphasized that Rovito was essential to his businesses—Capri Ristorante and Are We Live nightclub, which employ approximately 100 people—and that the indictment against him was narrow, alleging only that he attempted unsuccessfully to locate a bettor at a casino and once sent a text message inquiring about betting numbers. The indictment does not allege that Rovito collected money, made threats, or directed other suspects' conduct, though co-defendant James Gerodemos reportedly said Rovito once threatened to violently assault a gambling debtor. The court had previously approved two departures from Rovito's home detention for a wedding and Sunday Mass. Federal prosecutors highlighted Rovito's criminal history, which includes a 1991 sex crime committed as a 17-year-old against a 14-year-old girl, aggravated criminal sexual assault, controlled substance possession, and failure to register as a sex offender in 2003. Rovito faces charges of operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to collect gambling debts by extortionate means.
(Source：Patch)