Feds’ raids included reputed mobster’s home, authorities say

August 1, 2008 by The Boss · Leave a Comment

2 arrested in sweep face charges in 2003 Berwyn pipe-bombing

By Jeff Coen and Todd Lighty | Chicago Tribune reporters 8:28 PM CDT, July 31, 2008

The west suburban home of a reputed mobster was among the locations raided by federal agents investigating a 2003 pipe-bombing outside a Berwyn video and vending machine business.

Authorities confirmed searching a home in the 3000 block of Kensington Avenue in Westchester that is registered to Michael Sarno, 50, who was convicted in the early 1990s of being part of a crime family led by mobster Ernest Rocco Infelice. Sources said Sarno, who was released from federal prison in 1999, was the target of the search and that a large amount of cash was recovered.

Sarno has not been charged with any wrongdoing in connection with the bombing. He could not be reached Thursday for comment, and his lawyer declined to comment.

On Thursday authorities unsealed an indictment against Samuel Volpendesto, 84, of Oak Brook and Mark Polchan, 41, of Justice, following a series of raids across the Chicago area Wednesday by the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. In addition to the search at Sarno’s home, raids were conducted on Polchan’s Cicero pawn shop, Goldberg Jewelers, and three clubhouses of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club in Chicago, Elgin and Kankakee.

rest of story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-pipe-bomb-outlaws-web-aug01,0,749999.story