Years before Rick Heidner became a major force in video gambling in Illinois, he was the landlord of a west suburban bingo palace whose operators went to federal prison for skimming $2.9 million in profits from veterans charities.

Federal agents busted the operation in Northlake, and 10 men were indicted in 2002 on charges of racketeering, operating an illegal gambling business and money-laundering.

Heidner, who wasn’t charged with any crime, says he had no involvement in the bingo operation.

“I was just the landlord,” he says.

Heidner did stand to collect $594,000 in rent, though, from the crooked bingo operation, according to the five-year lease signed in December 1993.