Man sentenced for illegal gambling operation

A federal judge has handed a three-year prison sentence to a man convicted of running an illegal gambling operation.

In handing down the sentence to Casey Szaflarski on Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Ronald Guzman said the felon may be a nice guy, but his character is no better than the men behind the operation. Among those mentioned was reputed Cicero mob boss Michael “Big Mike” Sarno.

The 54-year-old Szaflarski was one of eight men charged in a racketeering conspiracy indictment alleging eight years of criminal activity, including illegal gambling, armed robberies and thefts, and obstruction of justice and arson.

Szaflarski was accused of placing video poker machines in bars in and around Chicago. Prosecutors say the mob earns millions of dollars each year from illegal gambling involving such equipment.