Thomas P. Gioiosa, who once lived with...

Thomas P. Gioiosa, who once lived with Cincinnati Reds Manager Pete Rose and his family, was released in Boston on $20,000 bond, after being indicted on charges of tax evasion and conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

A five-count indictment, returned in Cincinnati, accused Gioiosa of income tax evasion for 1985 and 1986. It also charged that he had conspired with others to arrange cocaine deliveries from Florida to Cincinnati between January 1985 and January 1987.

Gioiosa, 31, refused to answer when he was asked if the charges against him were an attempt by federal authorities to get at Rose, whose gambling activities are under investigation by the baseball commissioner’s office.

Rose, commenting on allegations that he was a heavy gambler, said: “I’m glad I don’t lose as much as people say I lose, and I wish I won as much as people think I win. I keep hearing this bull about how I’m a chronic gambler or something.

“What does a chronic gambler do? He’s got to find a place to gamble. Well, I got to spring training on Feb. 1, and I went to the dog track three times in 60 days. The dogs are really your only means of gambling in spring training. So I guess that’s the end of that theory.”

Regarding his association with Gioiosa, Rose said he hadn’t seen him in some time.

“I don’t know where Tommy Gioiosa is. Tommy Gioiosa used to live with me when he was about 18 years old. I don’t have any idea what he does now,” Rose said. “Any time that someone that you know is indicted for anything . . . you’re surprised. And I guess I’m the same. Tommy was always a nice kid to me. And I know his mom and dad real well.”

Gioiosa was a member of the Massasoit Community College baseball team when he met Rose in 1978 in Tampa, Fla. He has said he lived at Rose’s home in suburban Cincinnati for five years until Rose and his first wife, Karolyn, were divorced.