Attorney’s license suspended for one year

The disciplinary board of the state Supreme Court has suspended a Pittsburgh attorney who was charged in 2016 for his role in illegal gambling activities.

Louis F. Caputo, 40, of Peters, was suspended Monday from practicing law for a year retroactive to Dec. 16.

Mr. Caputo, a liquor license attorney, was charged in October 2016 with gambling devices, criminal solicitation and conspiracy. He pleaded guilty to the charges in August and was placed on five years of probation.

He was charged in connection with an investigation by the state Attorney General’s office that also led to gambling-related charges against former state Rep. Marc Gergley.

Investigators said Mr. Caputo was close to former gambling kingpin Ronald “Porky” Melocchi, who controlled hundreds of video gambling machines in roughly 70 locations throughout the Mon Valley, according to an investigating grand jury presentment.

The grand jury concluded that Melocchi used Mr. Gergely and Mr. Caputo to get ahead of his competition.

A White Oak Democrat, Mr. Gergely, 48, pleaded guilty in August to conspiracy involving gambling devices and violating the state’s election law regarding cash contributions. He resigned from the state Legislature and in December was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest.