Alleged mobster seeks exercise time

BOSTON, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- An alleged underboss of the New England Mafia is petitioning a federal court to allow him to circumvent a judge's orders and leave his home for exercise.

Anthony Cardinale, a lawyer for Carmen "The Cheese Man" DiNunzio, said he filed a petition in federal court to allow his client to visit a local park with a track or go to a fitness center daily for at least 30 minutes of exercise as recommended by his doctor, the Boston Globe reported Thursday.

Dr. Aaron Waxman of Massachusetts General Hospital wrote in court papers that the alleged mobster "is on a strict weight loss program because of diabetes and heart failure. I need him to have at least 30 minutes a day of sustained aerobic exercise. The best exercise he can do is sustained walking allowing for both arm and leg exercises."

DiNunzio was freed on $20,000 bail in May after his indictment on charges of bribing an undercover FBI agent posing as a corrupt state highway inspector. DiNunzio and two associates were allegedly trying to obtain a $6 million soil mix contract.

The conditions for DiNunzio's pretrial release include wearing an electronic monitoring bracelet and leaving his home only for a doctor's visit, a court date or to meet with his lawyer.