Dominick Basso
Encyclopedia
Dominick Basso sometimes shown incorrectly as Dominic Basso, was a mobster in the Chicago Outfit
and a high-ranking bookmaker
who was convicted in 1988 for syndicated gambling. Basso most notably was linked to baseball star Pete Rose
in a scandal as having been a bookie through whom Rose had placed bets on major-league baseball.
's betting operations in DuPage County, Illinois
and Chicago's northwest suburbs. In December 1988, Basso was convicted in Chicago of syndicated gambling and conspiracy to commit gambling and later was sentenced to 20 months of probation and 70 days of work release. At the time of Basso's arrest, betting slips showed that his clients often wagered large sums on baseball, football, basketball, and horse racing events. Authorities had seized $225,000 in betting slips, Basso's 1988 Lincoln Town Car
, his portable cellular telephone and $8,700 in cash, according to a news account.
Basso had been reported by the Chicago Sun-Times
to have operated a cleaning store to conceal his real occupation as the head of crime syndicate bosses who had controlled the Midwest's sports betting.
In January 1991, the Chicago Crime Commission
publicly identified Basso in a report titled Organized Crime in Chicago 1990. Basso was identified in 1989 as having worked for mob chieftains Ernest Rocco Infelise, Donald Angelini
, Dominic Cortina
and Salvatore DeLaurentis.
was accused of having placed bets on major-league baseball games. Investigator John M. Dowd
discovered six telephone calls that Rose had made to Basso's home and his bookmaking wire room over a period of several years in the late 1980s. Dowd's aides told the Internal Revenue Service
that Rose had placed bets with Basso believed to be more than $2,000 each on a variety of sporting events. The Chicago Sun-Times
reported at the time that Rose had made calls listed to telephones in various locations where Basso operated sports betting operations.
Rose famously denied knowing Basso at his farewell news conference on August 25, 1989, after he agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball because of allegations that he had gambled
on baseball games while playing for and managing the Cincinnati Reds
(in 2004, after years of public denial, Rose admitted to betting on baseball and on, but not against, the Reds). "I don't know no Mr. Basso," Rose told reporters in August 1989. "Sounds like he should be from Chicago, though."
from at least the 1980s until 1999.
Upon his death, Basso was survived by his wife, Diane; three sons, Michael, Vincent and Dominick, Jr.; and a daughter, Christine Marzillo.
Basso's son, Vincent Basso, was sentenced in 1999 to 1½ years in prison and fined $27,000 by United States District Judge Robert C. Broomfield
for his role in a point-shaving scandal involving Arizona State University
basketball. Vincent Basso reaped $27,000 from betting on a basketball game between Arizona State and the University of Southern California
.
Chicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
and a high-ranking bookmaker
Bookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
who was convicted in 1988 for syndicated gambling. Basso most notably was linked to baseball star Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
in a scandal as having been a bookie through whom Rose had placed bets on major-league baseball.
Career in Chicago Outfit
Basso was arrested in January 1988 after being suspected of being an overseer of the Chicago OutfitChicago Outfit
The Chicago Outfit, also known as the Chicago Syndicate or Chicago Mob and sometimes shortened to simply the Outfit, is a crime syndicate based in Chicago, Illinois, USA...
's betting operations in DuPage County, Illinois
DuPage County, Illinois
As of the 2010 Census, the population of the county was 916,924, White Americans made up 77.9% of Dupage County's population; non-Hispanic whites represented 70.5% of the population. Black Americans made up 4.6% of the population. Native Americans made up 0.3% of Dupage County's population...
and Chicago's northwest suburbs. In December 1988, Basso was convicted in Chicago of syndicated gambling and conspiracy to commit gambling and later was sentenced to 20 months of probation and 70 days of work release. At the time of Basso's arrest, betting slips showed that his clients often wagered large sums on baseball, football, basketball, and horse racing events. Authorities had seized $225,000 in betting slips, Basso's 1988 Lincoln Town Car
Lincoln Town Car
The Lincoln Town Car is a full-size luxury sedan that was sold by the upscale Lincoln division of Ford Motor Company; it was produced from 1981 to the 2011 model years...
, his portable cellular telephone and $8,700 in cash, according to a news account.
Basso had been reported by the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
to have operated a cleaning store to conceal his real occupation as the head of crime syndicate bosses who had controlled the Midwest's sports betting.
In January 1991, the Chicago Crime Commission
Chicago Crime Commission
The Chicago Crime Commission is an independent, non-partisan civic watchdog organization of business leaders dedicated to educating the public about the dangers of organized criminal activity, especially organized crime, street gangs and the tools of their trade: drugs, guns, public corruption,...
publicly identified Basso in a report titled Organized Crime in Chicago 1990. Basso was identified in 1989 as having worked for mob chieftains Ernest Rocco Infelise, Donald Angelini
Donald Angelini
Donald "The Wizard of Odds" Angelini was a mobster with the Chicago Outfit criminal organization who specialized in gambling operations....
, Dominic Cortina
Dominic Cortina
Dominic Cortina was a Chicago mobster and high-ranking member of the Chicago Outfit criminal organization, who oversaw gambling. His nicknames were "Big Dom", "Large", and "the Hat."-Chicago Outfit career:...
and Salvatore DeLaurentis.
Pete Rose gambling scandal
In 1989, baseball manager and retired baseball star Pete RosePete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
was accused of having placed bets on major-league baseball games. Investigator John M. Dowd
John M. Dowd
John M. Dowd , an American lawyer. He received his J.D. from Emory University School of Law.-Career:As of 2010 Dowd is a partner in the Washington, D.C. office law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.-Pete Rose investigation:...
discovered six telephone calls that Rose had made to Basso's home and his bookmaking wire room over a period of several years in the late 1980s. Dowd's aides told the Internal Revenue Service
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
that Rose had placed bets with Basso believed to be more than $2,000 each on a variety of sporting events. The Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
reported at the time that Rose had made calls listed to telephones in various locations where Basso operated sports betting operations.
Rose famously denied knowing Basso at his farewell news conference on August 25, 1989, after he agreed to permanent ineligibility from baseball because of allegations that he had gambled
Sports betting
Sports betting is the activity of predicting sports results and placing a wager on the outcome.-United States of America:Aside from simple wagers such as betting a friend that one's favorite baseball team will win its division or buying a football "square" for the Super Bowl, sports betting is...
on baseball games while playing for and managing the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
(in 2004, after years of public denial, Rose admitted to betting on baseball and on, but not against, the Reds). "I don't know no Mr. Basso," Rose told reporters in August 1989. "Sounds like he should be from Chicago, though."
Personal
Basso lived in Hawthorn Woods, IllinoisHawthorn Woods, Illinois
Hawthorn Woods is a village in the Fremont and Ela Townships of Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,002 at the 2000 census and estimated to have grown to over 8,000 by 2008. The village is located approximately 40 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. It was officially...
from at least the 1980s until 1999.
Upon his death, Basso was survived by his wife, Diane; three sons, Michael, Vincent and Dominick, Jr.; and a daughter, Christine Marzillo.
Basso's son, Vincent Basso, was sentenced in 1999 to 1½ years in prison and fined $27,000 by United States District Judge Robert C. Broomfield
Robert C. Broomfield
Judge Robert C. Broomfield is a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Arizona. President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Broomfield on May 15, 1985 and he was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 10, 1985. Judge Broomfield served as chief judge from 1994 to 1999...
for his role in a point-shaving scandal involving Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
basketball. Vincent Basso reaped $27,000 from betting on a basketball game between Arizona State and the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
.