By Illinois Review
A suburban Chicago restaurant owner with a violent criminal past has been released from federal custody under strict conditions – yet is still allowed to operate his popular restaurant while awaiting trial on serious federal charges.
Filippo Rovito, also known as “Gigi,” was released late Monday after federal prosecutors and his defense team reached an agreement reversing an earlier decision to hold him without bond.
Rovito had initially been deemed a danger to the community following his arrest in a sweeping multi-state gambling and money laundering case.
He is one of more than 20 defendants named in an 87-page indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Prosecutors allege the group operated a large-scale illegal sports betting operation involving bookmaking, extortion, and debt collection networks tied to Northwest Indiana.
Under the terms of his release, Rovito posted a $1 million secured bond and is now subject to home detention with electronic monitoring. He must remain at his Burr Ridge residence except for approved activities.
One of those approved activities: continuing to run Capri Ristorante, the well-known suburban restaurant he owns.
Rovito is permitted to leave home detention specifically to operate the business, which his attorneys argued was necessary to preserve approximately 100 jobs. Additional conditions include no contact with co-defendants or witnesses, restricted travel, regular check-ins with pretrial services, and compliance with all federal supervision requirements.
Federal prosecutors had previously argued that Rovito should remain detained, citing allegations that the criminal enterprise used threats and intimidation to collect debts. A judge initially agreed, ordering him held without bond.
That decision was reversed after defense attorneys emphasized his community ties and business obligations. Prosecutors ultimately agreed to the negotiated release terms.
But Rovito’s past continues to raise serious questions.
Court records show that in 1991, at age 17, Rovito and a co-defendant kidnapped and sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl. He was later convicted of criminal sexual assault and unlawful restraint. The case originally included more severe charges such as aggravated criminal sexual assault and aggravated kidnapping.
He was sentenced to six years in prison and served approximately five years before his release in 2002. The conviction required him to register as a sex offender under Illinois law.
Public records also show Rovito has faced issues complying with those requirements, including citations for failing to properly register.
Federal prosecutors referenced this history in arguing that he posed a danger to the community – particularly given the overlap between past violent conduct and current allegations involving coercion and intimidation.
Now, with Rovito back in the community and operating a restaurant, many residents are left asking how someone with such a serious criminal background was able to obtain a liquor license and run a high-profile business in the first place.
Questions are also emerging about whether political connections or local decisions played a role in allowing Rovito to build and maintain a public-facing business despite his record.
The case remains ongoing, and Rovito is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. If convicted on the current charges – including illegal gambling, extortion, and money laundering – he could face more than a decade in federal prison, with potential exposure closer to 20 years.
For now, Rovito remains under electronic monitoring – free on bond, but still at the center of a case that continues to raise concerns about public safety and accountability.
