November 4, 2019 — Chicago bar owner Vince Dublino, the star witness at the trial of jailed Windy City mob boss Michael (Fat Mike) Sarno in 2010, was arrested last week for felony theft. The 45-year old Dublino is alleged to have stolen money from Accel Entertainment Gaming, the state’s biggest joker poker machine distributor, by filing falsified reimbursement invoices back in 2017 and 2018. Dublino got into a beef with Sarno over the placement of video poker games at mob-controlled establishments in the 2000s when Sarno was a capo in the Chicago Outfit (he served as acting boss from 2005-2010) and Dublino was just getting started in the notoriously mobbed up industry. The pair had previously been partners in an ATM business. Sarno and members of The Outlaws Motorcycle Club — on Sarno’s orders — threatened to physically harm Dublino if he didn’t remove his machines from the The 47th Street Grill in Lyons Township, Illinois. According to court records, Dublino rebuffed Sarno in person and then insulted him. “I don’t work for you, go fuck yourself fat ass,” Dublino reportedly hissed at Sarno upon Sarno first approaching him in 2002 Three months later, in early 2003, Dublino’s C&S Coin Operated Amusements’ office and warehouse in Berwyn, Illinois was firebombed by The Outlaws at Sarno’s behest. Dublino’s tavern, The Forget About It, was vandalized by The Outlaws in the days prior. These days, Dublino owns Vinny’s Cafe in Berwyn on Roosevelt Road. Sarno, 62, was federally indicted for racketeering and extortion in 2008. Dublino testified against Sarno at his trial where he was found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Last week, Dublino pleaded not guilty to his theft charges and was released on bond to await trial. At a 2018 meeting of the Illinois Gaming Control Board, the board voted to ask Accel Entertainment Gaming to stop providing Dublino with video poker machines. Dublino is currently appealing the decision.
