Encore Boston Harbor, until recently Wynn Boston Harbor, is being built on the site of a formerly contaminated chemical plant on the Mystic River. The land sale in 2014 was the cause of much controversy that threatened to resurface in the form of a new lawsuit this week. (Image: Charles Krupai\/Associated Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAnthony Gattineri claims Wynn Resort\u2019s senior vice-president of development, Robert DeSalvio, promised to pay him this amount of money in secret, without the Massachusetts Gaming Commission\u2019s knowledge, but later reneged on the deal.<\/p>\n
The 2014 land sale became mired in controversy when Gattineri and fellow FTB Realty director Dustin DeNunzio were accused of falsifying documents, it was alleged to conceal the role of Charles Lightbody as a co-director of the company.<\/p>\n
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Lightbody had previous convictions for assault with a dangerous weapon and for organizing an identity theft ring, which Gattineri and DeNunzio believed would sink the deal. Massachusetts gaming law prohibits felons profiting from its casino industry.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The investigation came to light when Lightbody was heard boasting about the casino deal in a recorded phone conversation with Darin Bufalino, an alleged Mafia soldier he was visiting in prison.<\/p>\n
\u2018Fatal Problem\u2019 for Wynn Resorts<\/strong><\/h2>\nLightbody\u2019s involvement prompted the Gaming Commission intervene in the deal, insisting the land should be sold for its market value of $35 million, rather than the $75 million Wynn had initially offered, so that Lightbody would not profit unduly.<\/p>\n
The casino giant had been prepared to pay a premium on the land because it was tied to its bid for the sole east Massachusetts casino license, which it was contesting fiercely with Mohegan Sun.<\/p>\n
But according to the suit, Gattineri refused to budge on the price, which \u201ccaused a potentially fatal problem for Wynn\u2019s licensing prospects.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Robert DeSalvio then made Anthony Gattineri the following offer: if Anthony Gattineri signed the required Certificate and Wynn obtained the casino license for a casino …Wynn would \u2018make Anthony Gattineri whole\u2019 by providing him with his percentage of the purchase price reduction (which is $18,676,000),\u201d claims the lawsuit.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n