ALLEGED ‘GREEK’ GAMBLING LEADER WANTS RELEASE
The alleged ringleader of a ‘Greek’ gambling ring petitioned for pretrial release – arguing he’s not a flight risk or a threat to witnesses, filings show.
A detention hearing for James “Jimmy the Greek” Gerodemos, 63, of Schererville, is set for 10 a.m. Sept. 10 before Magistrate Judge Andrew Rodovich in the U.S. District Court in Hammond.
“The allegations against Mr. Gerodemos are serious, but they are essentially the same allegations that have been made against multiple of his co-defendants who have been released with conditions in this case, including Dean Gialamas, Basam Ibrahim, and Chris Gerodemos,” defense lawyer Beau Brindley wrote in the filing.
All of the defendants have pleaded not guilty.
The lawyer argued Gerodemos had a minimal criminal history and would not flee if released. Almost all other defendants have been released on pretrial monitoring, he wrote. The fact that Gerodemos visited a “fugitive” in Greece – alluding to East Chicago Sidewalk Six defendant Frank Kollintzas – shouldn’t be used against him, Brindley argued.
“Mr. Gerodemos would have no access to his Passport, would be subject to electronic monitoring and home confinement, and would risk causing substantial financial hardship to his family through forfeiture of bond if he were to flee, not to mention being forced to absent himself from his home country for the rest of his life,” the lawyer wrote.
A status hearing for all defendants is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sept. 10.
Co-defendant Basam Ibrahim was ordered released on bond in July, filings show.
Federal prosecutors previously admitted in court filings that Gerodemos, not Ibrahim, left two threatening voicemails for Victim 1’s daughter.
Co-defendant Peter Pavlopoulos was also ordered released on bond last month, records show.
MAN SENTENCED FOR ILLEGAL REENTRY
A Mexican man is facing deportation after his sentencing for reentry of a removed alien, according to a release.
U.S. District Judge Gretchen Lund sentenced Horacio Alarcon-Roldan, 32, on Aug. 13 to six months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release.
When he showed up for a routine court hearing for stealing railroad ties in Porter County on Aug. 1, 2025, he was arrested by U.S. Homeland Security, federal filings show.
U.S. Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Jason Hines wrote that the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District Transit Police — i.e., South Shore Line — notified them.
In court filings, defense lawyer Sheldon Nagelberg wrote Alarcon-Roldan left Mexico for a “better life,” fleeing “drug trafficking and violence.” He crossed the border in 2013, intending to live with his relative who had a visa, but was promptly arrested and deported, he added. His client returned the next year and lived in the U.S. until his 2025 arrest.
Alarcon-Roldan’s partner was a U.S. citizen and was left to raise four children, including his two with her, the lawyer wrote.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Morgan was assigned.