Burr Ridge Restaurateur's Release Terms Loosened, Faces Gambling Charges

BURR RIDGE, IL – A Burr Ridge restaurateur's release terms were loosened earlier this month after his lawyer cited his "unblemished compliance."

Filippo "Gigi" Rovito, 53, who was indicted in April as part of a suspected gambling ring, is now restricted to his Burr Ridge house from midnight to 7 a.m. every day.

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Before, a federal judge required him to stay at home at all times, except for work and a few other limited exceptions.

His attorney, Todd Pugh, said Rovito has not violated the terms of his release. Rovito is out on a $1 million bond.

Pugh said Rovito was critical to his businesses, Capri Ristorante and Are We Live nightclub, both in Burr Ridge.

"On any given day, Mr. Rovito handles the purchasing, the vendor and produce relationships, the payroll, and the regulars whose loyalty has made Capri successful for over twenty years," Pugh said.

Rovito's businesses employ about 100 people. When deliveries arrive late, equipment fails and workers are no-shows, Rovito is expected to be there, Pugh said.

The attorney also said the indictment is narrow on Rovito's conduct.

"It alleges that on one occasion Mr. Rovito attempted to locate a bettor at a casino – an effort the Indictment concedes was unsuccessful – and that, on one other occasion, he sent a
single text message inquiring about betting numbers," Pugh said.

But the indictment, he said, does not allege that Rovito collected any money, made or threatened violence, or directed the conduct of any other suspect.

According to the indictment, another defendant, James Gerodemos, told other suspects that Rovito stated he would "knock" a gambling debtor's "lights out and shove his head into a machine."

Since his indictment, the court has approved Rovito for two departures from his home detention terms. They were for a wedding and a Sunday Mass.

"For four months, Mr. Rovito has done everything that was asked of him," Pugh said. "Twice this Court relaxed his conditions, and twice he honored that trust."

Rovito was charged with operating an illegal gambling business and conspiracy to collect extensions of credit by extortionate means.

Federal prosecutors have noted Rovito's criminal history.

Public records show that a 17-year-old Rovito committed a sex crime against a 14-year-old girl in 1991. He was released from prison in 2002 after about five years.

His criminal charges have included aggravated criminal sexual assault and possession of a controlled substance, federal prosecutors said.

In 2003, he was convicted of failing to register as a sex offender, for which he received a two-year sentence, they said.