Gambling commission pick testified on behalf of promoter wit

PHILADELPHIA -- Gov. Ed Rendell's choice to lead the state's new Gambling Control Board testified in 2001 and 2002 for a boxing promoter with alleged mob ties. Frank Friel was hired by promoter Arthur Pelullo to help restore his license to promote fights in Connecticut. Pelullo had been banned by the Foxwoods Casino and another casino because he was identified as an associate of Philadelphia's Nicodemo "Little Nicky" Scarfo crime family, according to Connecticut authorities. Friel, a former Philadelphia police captain who co-chaired the FBI-Philadelphia Police Organized Crime Homicide Task Force in the 1980s, testified that he never saw evidence of mob links to Pelullo. "In all my years that I was investigating, his name never came across my desk as a (mob) member or associate and it didn't come across my desk during my investigation," Friel told the Philadelphia Daily News for Wednesday editions. Philip Leonetti, the onetime underboss of the Philadelphia mob who became a government informant, had testified in Connecticut that Pelullo was a mob associate. Pelullo denied the charges. The Connecticut Division of Special Revenue refused to issue Pelullo a promoter's license in 2001. He appealed and, after six hearings, was granted a license in May 2003. Former FBI agent James Maher, who worked on the task force with Friel, said Friel's decision to work for Pelullo was unwise. "I worked in the fight against organized crime for almost 30 years," Maher said. "I would not testify to help an associate of the Philadelphia (crime) family. I would not have testified on Artie Pelullo's behalf at that proceeding." Gary Langan, a retired FBI agent who asked Leonetti to testify at the Connecticut hearings, said, "It was silly of Frank to do." Last week, the Daily News reported that Friel was accused in a 1974 state Crime Commission report of being among dozens of police officers who took money from a club owner. Friel denied any wrongdoing and said he had truthfully testified before a grand jury that never filed criminal charges. State Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, a gambling opponent, said Friel is "under a cloud" and should be disqualified from working for the gaming board. Rendell said he would continue to support Friel. "In every one of these appointees, you're going to find something questionable," Rendell said. "No one lives a perfect life. No one lives a mistake-free life. All of us are judged by the totality of what we've done. Everyone who has looked at Frank Friel has heralded this appointment. Law enforcement personnel, the same guys in the FBI who differed with him in this case, praised the appointment." The five-member state gambing board is authorized to grant licenses to operate slot machine parlors, which were legalized this summer by the state Legislature.