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Rovito, whom NBC Chicago previously reported has alleged ties to the Chicago Outfit, is facing federal charges of operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means.
He was among 22 people arrested in coordinated raids by the FBI April 29 following a long-running investigation dubbed “Operation Porterhouse Parlay,” which allegedly uncovered links between illegal gambling operations and restaurant networks spanning Northwest Indiana and suburban Chicago.
Grasso claimed he was unaware of the donations before being approached by Patch. He added that his campaign had reported them to the Board of Elections and would be returning them.
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Rovito has pleaded not guilty and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. His attorney has disputed the government’s allegations, claiming that the indictment does not allege his client collected money, made any threats, or directed other defendants to do so.
The latest contribution is not the first time Rovito’s campaign donations to Grasso have attracted attention.
In 2017, Rovito donated $5,000 to Grasso’s unsuccessful campaign for Illinois attorney general. Grasso returned that money about a month later after a television station questioned the contribution, according to Patch.
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Nederlandse Loterij has welcomed government proposals aimed at expanding the Gambling Authority’s powers to combat illegal operators but has cautioned that comprehensive legislative changes could take years to become effective.
Blok called for more decisive immediate action, saying: “The government must act now through criminal prosecutions by the Public Prosecution Service, alongside measures taken by regulators and licensed operators.
“Tackling illegal gambling requires joint responsibility from banks, payment providers and hosting services who facilitate these platforms.”