Gambling-related trial to begin; Gardner man also charged with witness tampering.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Lee Hammel

WORCESTER - A jury was selected in U.S. District Court yesterday in the gambling and witness tampering case of a Gardner man.

Nine men and five women were sworn onto the jury panel that will hear charges against Dennis O. Jenks, 55, of 232 Chapel St., Gardner. A superseding indictment was handed up Jan. 4, 2007, charging him with operating an illegal gambling business, adding to the four counts of witness tampering charged in an Aug. 31, 2006, indictment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael L. Tabak and defense lawyer Vincent A. Bongiorni of Springfield will give opening arguments today in the case. Mr. Jenks is alleged to have helped operate a gambling business connected to an organized crime ring in which 13 men and women have been indicted.

The ring allegedly is headed by Arthur Gianelli, brother-in-law of John J. Connolly Jr., an ex-FBI agent convicted of extortion and awaiting trial on a murder charge in Florida. Mr. Gianelli and a dozen others are charged with 520 counts of racketeering and other charges, included arson in an attempt to extort ownership of Boston-area bars.

Central Massachusetts residents charged in the racketeering case are Dennis Albertelli and his wife, Gisele Albertelli, both of 151 Hudson Road, Stow; Randy Albertelli of 565 High St., Clinton; and Frank Iacaboni of 640 Union St., Leominster.

Mr. Jenks is charged with conducting an illegal gambling business between April 20 and June...