Scavo's bond hiked $985K after conviction

From the Proviso Herald
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/maywood/news/1609...

Former Melrose Park Police Chief Vito Scavo and his two convicted co-defendants will remain out of prison until they are sentenced, but a federal court judge on Friday significantly increased their bond amounts.

Judge Joan Gottschall increased Scavo's bond from $15,000 to $1 million.

"Things have changed since the verdict," Gottschall told the court, indicating an increased flight risk now that the men have been convicted on corruption charges.

Scavo's bond will be secured by the value of three properties -- two of Scavo's and one of friend Michael Calafiore. Scavo owns homes in Melrose Park and Florida, but the values of the properties, and Calafiore's, will be determined at a June 16 court appearance.

Calafiore is a friend of the family, Scavo told the judge.

"His wife and my wife are close friends and because of that we are very close," Scavo said. "He's like a family member to me. He's like the brother I never had."

Gary Montino, a former deputy police chief in Melrose Park, saw his bond increase to $500,000. On Monday he is required to pay $5,000 cash, and the rest will be secured through the equity of Montino's Melrose Park home, which he co-owns with his wife. The value of his property will be determined at a June 15 court appearance.

Montino has $7,000 in a savings account, his attorney, Jim Graham, told the court.

The third defendant, former part-time police officer Michael Wynn, saw his bond amount raised to $200,000. Wynn has no equity to put toward the bond, so he is required to report weekly by telephone to authorities until he is sentenced.

A date for the sentencing had not been scheduled.

The bond agreements prohibit the three men from leaving the Northern District of Illinois without court permission, their passports and firearm identification cards remained revoked and they were told to refrain from consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.

Scavo was convicted of 22 counts of racketeering conspiracy, extortion, obstruction of justice, mail and wire fraud, and filing false taxes. The charges stemmed from a decade-long scheme to shake down local businesses to hire his security firms. He operated these firms out of the Melrose Park Police Department using on-duty cops and squad cars.

Montino and Wynn were also found guilty on all counts; Montino on racketeering conspiracy and mail fraud, and Wynn on mail fraud.

The original bond was much too low. Higher bond guarantees nothing because they are all potential flight risks.