Northwest Indiana gambling ring's alleged leader remains in custody
James Gerodemos, a leader of a multi-state gambling ring, was denied bail and ordered to remain in custody.Summary
James "Jimmy the Greek" Gerodemos, 62, was denied bail by a federal magistrate judge in Hammond, Indiana, after prosecutors argued he poses a flight risk. The indictment alleges Gerodemos led a gambling and extortion ring operating out of family restaurants in Northwest Indiana, including Gino's Steakhouse in Merrillville and Paragon in Hobart. Prosecutors detailed how Gerodemos paid former Lake County Sheriff John Buncich $10,000 monthly to overlook illegal video poker machines in the 1990s. The case involves 22 defendants, including Dean Gialamas, who was released on bond in Puerto Rico. Other defendants, such as Basam Ibrahim and Filippo Rovito, also faced bond denials or conditions. The indictment reveals extensive threats of violence against victims to collect gambling debts, including one instance where a victim's mother was mocked. Prosecutors utilized secret recordings, phone data, and iCloud messages as evidence against the defendants.
(Source：Chicago Tribune)