In late 2007, shortly after being sworn in as governor of Buenos Aires province, Daniel Scioli summoned the main bingo hall operators to a private meeting at the governor’s office itself. The purpose: to introduce them to his new overseer of the provincial Institute of Lotteries and Casinos, Luis Alberto Peluso. “I present to you a person of my complete trust. Whatever he tells you is as if I said it; speak freely,” Scioli assured before leaving.
Peluso, without allowing any comments, dropped the bombshell: “We need each of you to make a one-time extraordinary contribution of one million dollars and 1.5% of gross monthly revenue. All under the table.” He cited a supposed “fiscal crisis” inherited from Felipe Solá, but no one believed him. The money, according to witnesses, was destined for the pockets of the officials themselves. It is unknown if anyone agreed, but Scioli’s government later cracked down on certain business groups while granting favors to others.
Peluso is no stranger. A personal friend of Scioli since the Menem era, he used to play poker in Punta del Este with Carlos Menem, Gerardo Sofovich, and businessman Armando Gostanian. His cleaning company Linser SA was a supplier to the Menem government, worked with María Julia Alsogaray at ENTEL and with Víctor Alderete at PAMI, and was reported by the Anti-Corruption Office for charging amounts three times higher than owed.
ARI deputy Walter Martello prepared a report stating that “it is rumored that the businessman and now Scioli official has more than 150 million dollars.” Additionally, businessman Oscar Robinson, who runs charters to Las Vegas casinos, told the courts that Peluso brought him clients, presenting himself as a man linked to Cristóbal López.
But there is more: according to a 2008 complaint, Peluso is accused of being part of a money pool to lend cash to “high-roller” players at the Floating Casino, in partnership with Miguel Ángel Egea, linked to the illegal appropriation of assets of the disappeared from ESMA. The same filing reveals that he granted 176 permits for new lottery and gaming agencies in a non-transparent manner.
An audio recording captures the voice of Heriberto Castellaneta, head of the Chamber of Official Lottery Agents, who said: “Some agents complain, others have made some kind of statements saying they wanted to ‘pressure’ them, but I tell them, well, let’s all be cautious.”
The lingering question: why did Scioli entrust such a sensitive matter as his 2015 presidential campaign to someone so controversial? Peluso was his main fundraiser, and his shady past remains unanswered.
khe basura de noticia para mi esto huele a otro zurdo infiltrado defendiendo a scioli? peluso es un delincuente menemista pero este recaudador trucho es lo mismo que macri con los suyos todos chorros la argentina necesita patria y orden no estos mafiosos del juego viva la libertad carajo
para mi este peluso es un hijo de mil puta chorea en negro como menemista de mierda scioli es tan culo como el se llena los bolsillos mientras el pueblo se caga de hambre a estos lacras hay q fusilarlos no jodamos