Los Angeles Municipal Judge Elva R. Soper...

Los Angeles Municipal Judge Elva R. Soper ordered Los Angeles police to return nearly $25,000 in cash seized last fall at the Westlake Village home of Peter John Milano, the reputed chief of organized crime in Southern California. Milano, 59, was arrested last Oct. 28 as part of what authorities said was an effort to break up an attempt by Mafia families to muscle in on bookmaking operations in the Southland. However, Milano was not among 12 suspects arrested during the raids who were formally charged with bookmaking offenses Tuesday. As a result, Deputy Dist. Atty. Robert O’Neill said, authorities have no legal grounds to keep the money.