James Formato, a police officer in the Chicago, IL suburb of Berwyn, has pleaded guilty to federal racketeering and obstruction of justice charges for his role in a burglary ring "allegedly led by reputed Outfit figure Michael 'the Large Guy' Sarno" as reported by Jeff Coen for The Chicago Tribune:
Formato pleaded guilty in federal court to racketeering and obstruction of justice and acknowledged he passed sensitive law enforcement information to mobsters and took part in burglaries himself. Members of the ring, allegedly led by reputed Outfit figure Michael "the Large Guy" Sarno, are accused of taking part in the bombing of a video poker business, home invasions and jewelry heists that netted nearly $2 million. Formato, 43, is expected to cooperate with the government in return for a reduced sentence, Assistant U.S. Attorney Amarjeet Bhachu said in court. He could testify against Sarno and other members of the crew at trial in October. Formato acknowledged he passed information to mob associates about a van that federal authorities were looking for in connection with the bombing, knowing the tip would be passed onto Sarno.
