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Numbers Racket Boss SentencedPITTSBURGH (UPI) -John Bazzano Jr.. Me-Murray. Washington County, alleged head of a mullimlllion-dollar illegal numbers operation in southwestern Pennsylvania, was sentenced Monday to a total of seven years imprisonment and S40.IHJO I inc.U.S. District Court Chlel Judge Herbert P. Sorg Ini-pcscd a five-year term for Haaano’s role in directing and owning the $2.St million-a-year Illegal gambling business and a two-.vcar term tor his alleged eon-spiring with public officials to obstruct Pennsylvania gambling laws.The two-year lerm will begin after Bazzano. son inlaw of reputed local rackets leader Anthony Ripcpi. completes the five-year lerm.Sorg also sentenced five olher dclendants in the caseJohn P. Mat*, former Republican mayor of nairton, was sentenced to four years in prison and SIS,U00 fine for his role in protecting Bazzano’s numbers business. Maliallegedly received JI.SOO a month In protection money.David R. Guffey, former Clairton police chief under Ihe Mats administration, received a four-year prison lerm and JS.flOO fine. Guffey still serves as a pulrolman in Ihc Clairton police department.Also receiving four-year rison sentences and fines of 5.000 were former Clairton Magistrate Regis Ward; lormcr Clairton constable, police chief and stale House Scrgcant-atarms Pelcr P Orsini. and Thomas C Poljak. former Elizabeth police chief.U.S. Attorney Blair A. Griffith said. “These sentences underline the existence and continued viability of Ihe politico racket complex in Western Pennsylvania. These sentences should serve noticethat large-scale gamblers and corrupt officials who betray their public Irust are not going to be tolerated in our Western Pennsylvania communltv.Griffith ’ noted the total number of convictions ob tained in indictments related to the Bazzano operation now stand at 41.Assistant U.S. Attorney James K. Roark, who tried Ihe case and represented tle government at the- sentencing. praised the work ot FBI agents and said the -it convictions involved Individuals from as far west its BliiRCttslown. Washington County, as tar south as Uniontown. Pa.vctlc County, and throughout Ihe Mon Valley and parts ol Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.
Newspaper Details
Tyrone Daily Herald
Tyrone, Pennsylvania, US
Tue, Nov 16, 1976
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Massillon P.
OH, USA 28 Apr 2017
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