A widely known trainer in the local horse business was convicted by a federal jury Friday in the killing of a show horse, but a wealthy retired businessman who owned the horse was acquitted of charges in the scheme.
Robert Cheska, 42, who ran Indian Creek Farm in Mundelein at the time of the 1987 scheme, was found guilty of one count of mail fraud in a plot to collect on a $50,000 insurance policy.
The jury acquitted Georg Nuber, 67, of Inverness, who owned the horse, named Valentino, which was electrocuted by a hit man, Tommy Burns, in Florida. Nuber formerly owned a pizza oven manufacturing company in Arlington Heights.
Cheska’s marked the 24th conviction–and likely the last–in a major FBI probe of the equestrian industry, which uncovered horse killings by owners, trainers and riders for lucrative insurance payouts.
U.S. District Judge James Holderman set Cheska’s sentencing for Aug. 7.
