Magistrate Denies Bid to Hold Alleged Mobster Without Bond

A federal magistrate denied a motion Friday by prosecutors to have reputed mobster Chris Petti held without bond pending his trial on charges of attempting to infiltrate gambling operations at the Rincon Indian Reservation.

In denying the government motion, U.S. Magistrate Barry Ted Moskowitz said prosecutors failed to demonstrate that Petti was a danger to the community.

However, Moskowitz will place additional restrictions on Petti, who is free on a $250,000 property bond, pending the outcome of an appeal of his money-laundering conviction in the Richard T. Silberman case.

At a hearing set for Tuesday, Moskowitz will hear arguments from attorneys on both sides in an effort to determine if Petti should be placed in a 24-hour halfway house, if he should be subject to electronic monitoring or if additional money should be added to his bond.

Petti, 64, is one of 10 defendants named in a 15-count indictment handed down by a federal grand jury last week. Included among the defendants are alleged Chicago mob bosses Samuel Carlisi and John (No Nose) DiFronzo and San Diego lawyer Nick DePento.

Defense attorney Jan Ronis, appearing for attorney Oscar Goodman, said if prosecutors really think Petti is so dangerous, they have done the American public “a great disservice” by allowing him to remain free on bond for the past 20 months in the wake of the Silberman case.