Magistrate Sets Petti Bail at $500,000
A magistrate set bail Tuesday at $500,000 for reputed mobster Chris Petti and ordered that he follow strict conditions if he is able to post bail.
Petti, 64, who had earlier posted a $250,000 bond while appealing his money-laundering convictions in the Richard Silberman case, was ordered to post a second $250,000 bond to be freed in his latest case.
U.S. Magistrate Barry Ted Moskowitz said that, even then, Petti must surrender his passport, not use any pay or cellular telephones, and keep from associating with any of the co-defendants unless their attorneys are present.
Petti also is not to travel outside the county without permission from the court and is not to possess firearms or drugs.
Petti, defense attorney Nicholas De Pento, and eight co-defendants were indicted Jan. 10 on charges that they conspired to participate in racketeering, and mail and wire fraud in attempting to finance gambling operations on the Rincon Indian Reservation in North County.
Moskowitz issued a one-day stay of Tuesday’s order to allow the government to appeal his ruling.
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