St. Charles Man Among Nine Indicted on Extortion Charges

A St. Charles man is among nine Chicago-area men who were arrested this week after a federal grand jury returned three indictments against them Tuesday on federal extortion charges alleging debt collection efforts using intimidation, fear, and, in once case, physical violence.

Three federal grand jury indictments against the men were unsealed Wednesday, July 24, 2013, after arrests made by the FBI, according to Cory B. Nelson, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Chicago office of the FBI, and Gary S. Shapiro, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.

Mark Dziuban, 52, of St. Charles, is listed in the third indictment, which alleges that he and four other men attempted to extort business owners in Nevada, Wisconsin and New Jersey with business debts owed to a Carol Stream company or one of its affiliates. The indictment seeks forfeiture from all of the defendants in the amount of $26,500.

The indictment also charges Frank Orlando, 47, of Schaumburg (one count); George Brown, 50, of Lombard (four counts); Vito Iozzo (three counts), who also is charged in another indictment; and Robert McManus, 43, of Cicero (two counts).

One of the three indictments charges Paul Carparelli, 44, of Itasca, with one count each of conspiracy to commit extortion, and attempted extortion against a single defendant. The indictment alleges that  Carparelli collaborated with others to collect business debts from three business owners in Nevada, Wisconsin and New Jersey.

As in the other indictment, the debts were owed to a Carol Stream company or one of its affiliate. The indictment charges that Carparelli, or others directed by him, met with business owners and made threatening demands for payment of those debts. This indictment also seeks forfeiture in the amount of $26,500 from Carparelli.

The remaining indictment charges four men with one count each of conspiracy to commit extortion, and attempted extortion. The men charged are Luigi Sardone, 51, of Franklin Park; Navneet Chawla, also known as “Guru,” 48, of Naperville; Iozzo; and Patrick White, 46, of Aurora. The indictment alleges the four conspired to collect a purported debt owed by an individual to Chawla, who in turn owed a debt to Sardone. According to the indictment, in addition to verbal demands for payment, White and another person struck and kicked the individual from whom the defendants sought the payment.

According to authorities, Carparelli appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan E. Cox, who ordered he be held in federal custody.

Sardone, Chawla, Iozzo and White appeared Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sheila Finnegan. Sardone was ordered held pending his next court appearance. Chawla, Iozzo and White were released from custody. Orlando, Iozzo and McManus also appeared in court Wednesday before U.S. District Court Judge Edmond E. Chang. Orlando and Iozzo were released, while McManus was ordered held.

Each count carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to authorities.