Five reject mob charges

      Five suspects pleaded innocent Thursday to all charges stemming from a wide-ranging investigation of organized crime activities in Southern Nevada.
      The federal investigation resulted in the indictment of nine people last week, including two men linked to the January shooting death of longtime mob associate Herbert "Fat Herbie" Blitzstein.
      Las Vegas resident Alfred Mauriello, one of the men accused in Blitzstein's death, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leavitt on Thursday with court-appointed attorney Lamond Mills.
      After the hearing, Mills expressed skepticism about the allegations against his client.
      "He's 69 years old. He lives off Social Security, gets food stamps, and Medicaid pays for his medical for his three heart attacks," Mills said. "If this is organized crime in this case, then it's the most unorganized and poorest-paying outfit that I've ever seen."
      Mauriello told the magistrate his education ended after the seventh grade.
      Las Vegas resident Peter Caruso, 58, also faces charges in connection with the Blitzstein slaying. He is named as a defendant in all 13 counts of the indictment, which includes such charges as racketeering and extortion.
      Blitzstein, 63, was shot in the base of the skull in his townhome at 3655 Mount Vernon Ave. Authorities have said he was killed by mobsters interested in infiltrating his business activities in the Las Vegas Valley.
      Caruso, who is represented by an assistant federal public defender, appeared before Leavitt on Thursday. Caruso said he has a high school education.
      Also in court Thursday were 40-year-old Joseph DeLuca, who found Blitzstein's body on Jan. 7, and Mauriello's 45-year-old son Stephen. Both live in Las Vegas.
      Stephen Mauriello faces two counts of extortion. DeLuca, the owner of Any Auto Repair on Fremont Street, faces racketeering and extortion charges.
      Alfred and Stephen Mauriello, DeLuca and Caruso are being detained pending trial in the case. Las Vegas resident Anthony DeLulio, 45, surrendered Monday and was released.
      DeLulio, a construction worker, faces one count of conspiracy and pleaded innocent Thursday along with the other four defendants. Leavitt scheduled a trial date of June 2, but Mills said he expects the trial to be postponed because of the case's complexity.
      The defense attorney said he also expects other charges and other defendants to be added.
      "When they tell you the investigation's ongoing, that means more stuff is going to roll down the hill," he said.
      Of all the defendants who were arraigned in the case Thursday, only Stephen Mauriello reported having any education beyond high school. He said he attended one year of college.
      A sixth suspect, Las Vegas resident Stephen Cino, 60, appeared in court Thursday, but his arraignment was postponed.
      Other suspects in the case include Los Angeles resident Louis Caruso, 40, who was arrested Thursday and released on bond, and Las Vegas resident Robert Panaro, 55. Arraignments for both are scheduled for May.
      Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Kurt Schulke said another suspect, 53-year-old Charles Librizzi of Bullhead City, Ariz., is serving time in a New Jersey prison on a probation violation and soon will be transferred to Las Vegas.
      Cino, who is being detained pending trial, is scheduled to appear today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Roger Hunt for his arraignment. Cino also faces sentencing today before U.S. District Judge Lloyd George for a role in attempting to influence a union-run show in 1991 at the Dunes.