Oak Brook man, six others indicted in jewelry store robberies

A man federal prosecutors have said is a mob crew leader was involved in the 2001 robbery of a St. Charles jewelry store, according to a new indictment charged Thursday.

Michael "Big Mike" Sarno, 51, of Westchester was indicted along with an Oak Brook man and five others, accused of racketeering conspiracy that included robbing seven jewelry stores, running an illegal video poker gambling operation and bombing a competing video poker business.

Thursday's indictment made no mention of the mob, but Assistant U.S. Attorney Markus Funk has said in court in the past that Sarno, then identified as "Outfit Member A," is the leader of a mob crew. Public court documents subsequently identified "Outfit Member A" as Sarno. Funk also alleged in court that two others in Thursday's indictment, Samuel Volpendesto, 85, of Oak Brook and Mark Polchan, 41, of Justice, were mob associates.

The indictment alleges Sarno had Polchan and Volpendesto bomb C & S Coin Operated Amusements in Berwyn on Feb. 25, 2003 to eliminate competition. Polchan and Volpendesto were charged with involvement in the bombing last August. Sarno was formally charged May 21 by indictment, which was made public Thursday.

Also indicted on charges of racketeering conspiracy Thursday were James Formato, 42, a former Berwyn police officer; Mark Hay, 52; Anthony Volpendesto, 46 and the son of Samuel; and Dino Vitalo, 40, a Cicero police officer.

Polchan used his Cicero pawnshop, Goldberg's Jeweler's, to store gambling machines before distributing them to several locations, including Outlaw motorcycle gang clubhouses, the indictment said. Polchan is a member of the Outlaws, the U.S. Attorney has charged.

Vitalo, the indictment alleges, kept Polchan abreast of possible federal surveillance of his shop. And authorities say Formato gave Polchan information federal investigators had on a vehicle seen after the Berwyn bombing.

The indictment alleges all seven men were involved in the conspiracy to rob seven jewelry stores in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, including The Gold Mine Jewelry Store in St. Charles on April 26, 2001 and Lenna Jewelers in Hinsdale on May 1, 2002. Items worth $1.8 million were taken in the robberies and a Chicago home burglary.

Attorneys for those charged could not be reached for comment Thursday. Polchan, Hay and both Volpendestos are in custody, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet S. Bhachu. The others will appear in court at arraignment dates, which have yet to be set.