Chicago Mob Kingpin ‘Fat Mike’ Sarno Denied Compassionate Release for Illegal Gambling Operations

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• Judge denies Fat Mike’s plea for compassionate prison release.
• Cicero Crew boss remains high risk despite health issues.
• Sarno’s violent history overshadows claims of frailty in prison.

Michael “Fat Mike” Sarno, the notorious leader of the Chicago Outfit’s Cicero Street Crew, has made a recent appeal for compassionate release from his incarceration in the United States Medical Center for Federal Prisoners in Springfield, Missouri. This request, however, was firmly denied by U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis. The court emphasized that despite his advanced age and deteriorating health, Sarno remains a potential danger to the public.

Sarno, aged 67, is serving a 25-year sentence for crimes including racketeering and extortion, particularly noted for orchestrating a 2003 pipe bomb attack on a rival’s video-poker machine business. He has also faced accusations of masterminding numerous armed robberies across four states, with the stolen goods funneled through a pawnshop tied to the Outlaws motorcycle gang. His history in organized crime is well-documented and paints a picture of someone not easily rehabilitated.

Sarno’s Health Claims

In his plea, Sarno described himself as “a pathetic shadow of my former self,” detailing how his health has declined since his incarceration. He claims to have walked into prison weighing 400 pounds and in good health, but he has since become wheelchair-bound, relying on assistance for basic tasks. He expressed a feeling of humiliation regarding his condition.

“When not in a wheelchair, I have laid in bed for weeks and months at a time,” Sarno stated in his letter.

Throughout the years, Sarno has sought compassionate release several times, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, where his attorneys argued that his continued incarceration posed a significant risk to his health amid the virus’s spread within prison facilities.

Legal Reasons for Denial

In her judgement, Judge Ellis underscored that the courts are not obligated to grant release solely on the basis of health concerns. She noted that Sarno still represents a threat due to his connections with ongoing criminal enterprises.

Judge Ellis’s verdict stressed:

• Sarno remains capable of perpetuating his role within a criminal organization despite his current physical limitations.
• He commanded a criminal syndicate involved in extensive illegal activities, culminating in violence and bombings directed at rivals.
• Sarno has expressed a continual intention to engage in criminal conduct, including racketeering and gambling.

As Sarno continues to serve his time, his case highlights the complex interplay between health issues and public safety within the legal system. Sarno’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the repercussions of a life entrenched in crime. The Cicero Crew, historically tied to the Chicago Outfit and notorious for engaging in illegal gambling and loan sharking, reminds us of the legacy of organized crime in America.

Summary

Michael ‘Fat Mike’ Sarno’s request for compassionate release has been denied, largely due to concerns about his potential risk to the community stemming from his past as a high-ranking mob operative of the Cicero Crew. His health claims, while serious, do not outweigh the threat he poses, as highlighted by Judge Ellis. This case underscores the ongoing duality between health concerns of inmates and their historical criminal activities.

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