The Mayor of Burr Ridge, Illinois, Gary Grasso, has defended the indicted restaurant owner of Capri Filippo “Gigi” Rovito, Jr. Rovito is one of 22 named as part of an illegal gambling ring that allegedly operated a betting business and extorted those with gambling debts.
The 52-year-old was charged with four counts of extortion last month. According to the indictment, he attempted to collect gambling debts from an unnamed victim.
Prosecutors say James Gerodemos, the alleged ringleader of the group, promised Gigi half of the victim’s $30,000 debt if he could successfully collect the money.
“FILIPPO ROVITO said he was going to knock VICTIM 2’s lights out and shove his head into a machine,” states the indictment.
Mayor Has Dish Named After Him At “Nuts” Rovito’s Restuarant
Mayor Grasso has a dish named after him at Capri, Linguini alla Mayor Grasso. He said he frequently dines there with his wife and defended Rovito’s right to continue operating the business.
“To my knowledge, there is no specific allegation that Gigi actually threatened or physically harmed anyone,” the Mayor wrote in a letter to the people of Burr Rudge. “There is hearsay about it though. The allegation, so far, as to Gigi is that he is part of this illegal gambling activity in Indiana (not acceptable if true) and that ‘someone said that Gigi said’ he would harm the gambler for not paying his debt.”
The indictment states that Gerodemos described Rovito as “nuts.” As the Mayor notes in his letter, Rovito is a convicted double-felon. In 1997, he was sentenced to six years in prison for the sexual assault of a 14-year-old, which added to a six-year sentence for delivery of a controlled substance.
Usually, convicted felons are not granted liquor licenses in Illinois, but the Mayor made an exception in Rovito’s case. He claims he “met the standards for rehabilitation under state law.”
The license has caused controversy and led to a confrontation at the restaurant. Burr Ridge Village Trustee Zach Mottl, a political rival of Grasso, allegedly questioned how Rovito could gain a license as a convicted felon.
“How does a felon get a liquor license?” Mottl said, according to a police report. Rovito responded, “You need an ass beating.”
Mayor and Rovito Have Longstanding Ties
The Mayor, a qualified attorney, also wrote in his letter that he has defended Rovito in two previous lawsuits against the restaurateur.
“Yes, I also represented Gigi in two civil lawsuits where I thought he was wronged; and did so successfully because he was not responsible. It’s still America, isn’t it?” the Mayor wrote.
Rovito contributed $5,000 to Grasso’s ill-fated campaign for attorney general in 2018. Grasso returned the money after the contribution became controversial.
In 2022, a complaint was filed with the FEC alleging that Rovito had funneled illegal “straw donor” contributions to Grasso’s congressional campaign.
The complaint alleged Rovito used his wife and employees to make $11,600 in maximum-limit contributions. The case was later dismissed for lack of evidence.
Rovito Allegedly Part of Al Capone Mafia Group
Rovito has embraced alleged ties to the mafia and has built a following of over 250,000 on social media. A recent Instagram post shows him with Sopranos actor Joseph R. Gannascoli.
Alongside Linguini alla Mayor Grasso, Capri’s menu also features Wise Guy Meatballs and Chicken “Forget About It.” An article in the Gangster Report last year names Rovito as an alleged member of the Cicero Crew, the Chicago-based criminal organization started by Al Capone.
Capri Restaurant was allegedly the scene of a gang fight between the Cicero Crew and Latin Kings in March last year. The report does not say Rovito was involved in the fight, and it is unclear if it is connected to the indictment unsealed last month.
Federal court records also show Rovito was allegedly paid to administer a “thorough beating” to a used car dealer who defaulted on a private loan in 2013.
Records show Michael “Mickey” Davis gave Rovito a $5,000 down payment for the beating, ultimately promising a total of “10,000 clams.” The FBI then intervened before the debtor was physically harmed, and Rovito was not charged in the case.
In the illegal gambling case, Rovito has been released on a $1 million bond.
“For now, he is out on bond and presumed innocent until otherwise proved,” stressed Mayor Grasso.
Gerodemos remains in police custody as the investigation continues, while his brother, Chris, has also been released on a $1 million bond. The group allegedly made $5 million in proceeds from their illegal gambling business.
