DiMatteos likely won’t be allowed to post bail

By Kathryn Reed

Gino and Irene DiMatteo of South Lake Tahoe remained in separate El Dorado County jails Monday after having been arrested Aug. 31 on drug charges.

Gino DiMatteo, 43, was being housed in Placerville on $37,500 bail. He faces charges of felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale, and bribing a public official.

His 36-year-old wife was being held in the South Lake Tahoe jail on $25,000 bail. She faces felony charges of possession of marijuana for sale, possession of concentrate cannabis, and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Gino DiMatteo

It is possible neither will be able to post bail based on the penal code tacked on to their charges that says, “Bail, pursuant to this chapter, shall not be accepted unless a judge or magistrate finds that no portion of the consideration, pledge, security, deposit, or indemnification paid, given, made, or promised for its execution was feloniously obtained.”

DiMatteo used to operate City of Angel’s II marijuana dispensary. He had to close it down this summer when the landlord evicted him and the city denied his application to move the business.

At the Aug. 21 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting DiMatteo’s $1 million claim against the city for not letting him move his pot shop was denied by the council. The council has scheduled a special closed session meeting related to the claim for 8:15am Sept. 4.

DiMatteo currently owns Push Fitness, which remains open.

No new details about who was allegedly bribed have been forth coming since Lake Tahoe News broke the story on Friday.