Gambling raid nets couple

Charges tied to a gambling raid at Treasure Island may come within a week, a detective says.

WARREN – A Warren couple and an Illinois man are charged with operating a gambling house, the result of a Jan. 12 raid on a gambling parlor that used electronic gaming devices.

Phillip M. Cassidy, 60, and his wife, Janet, 60, of Laird Avenue, were released Friday after each posted a $2,500 surety bond, set at their arraignments before municipal court Magistrate Daniel N. Gerin.

Phillip Cassidy is charged with three counts of operating a gambling house and six counts of possession of criminal tools while his wife faces two counts operating a gambling house and three counts of possession of criminal tools. The charges are misdemeanors.

They are accused of working at Wild Cherry Gaming, 2671 Youngstown Road, where 20 machines were seized.

Defense attorney Thomas Zina of Youngstown asked that they be released on their own recognizance and Traci Timko-Rose, an assistant city prosecutor, agreed, but the magistrate set the bond.

Zena said the Cassidys are retired, have no criminal records and were working for $6 an hour to supplement their retirement incomes.

Meanwhile, an arrest warrant has been issued charging Michael C. Pesola, 42, of Park Ridge, Ill., a Chicago suburb, with operating a gambling house. Pesola was able to watch who was playing the machines at Wild Cherry Gaming from his home outside Chicago.

In another matter, Warren police Detective Jeffrey Hoolihan said there may be more charges filed in a week for those involved at Treasure Island, 2004 North Road, another gaming place that was raided in February.

Police seized 32 machines and money at Treasure Island. Hoolihan had said that those who played the machines at Treasure Island earned points. They received gas cards that they exchanged in another room of cash, minus 10 percent.