Poker Writer
Casey Szaflarski, known as the one-time “kingpin” of underground video gambling in Chicago according to the Sun-Times, has been arrested on unrelated burglary charges. The 67-year-old was indicted on May 28 with felony charges related to the burglary of the home of a Chicago-area restaurateur. The burglary occurred on March 18 in the West Dundee suburb, which is approximately a 90-minute drive from Downtown Chicago.
Authorities allege that Szaflarski and his two accomplices took between $10,000 and $100,000 worth of jewelry and currency. The Chicago authorities identified the two accomplices as Paul Koroluk, a mob-connected burglar, and Louis Capuzi Jr., the son of a former state legislator.
The owner of the burglarized home also owns a restaurant group with more than 10 establishments that use video gambling machines. The Sun-Times didn’t name him but did say the machines generated as much as $30 million in net income. He has reportedly denied any connection between the burglary and the video Illinois gambling business.
Illinois legalized video gambling in 2009, with the market opening in 2012. Prior to that, mob-run machines populated some establishments.
Szaflarski spent three years in prison from 2012 following a federal prosecution that alleged that he was the leader of a mob-associated video gambling operation. That empire was reportedly under the direction of Cicero mob boss Michael “The Large Guy” Sarno, now in prison.
The Accomplices
Koroluk, meanwhile, has had many run-ins with Chicago authorities through the years. Reports from the Chicago Sun-Times that date back to 1998 list them:
Includes multiple arrests for unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a silencer, battery, burglary, arson, assault, possession of burglary tools and theft.
The report mentions that Koroluk frequently landed in front of the same judges for these charges, who would then dismiss his cases.
The third accomplice, Capuzi Jr., is a 68-year old who also has an arrest history. But in this case, his attorney has defended him from the burglary allegations.
Louie is an older man in bad health — there’s no evidence he was in the house, outside the house, that he took anything.
Capuzi’s attorney also said Capuzi was dealing with a flat tire during the break-in.
