Investigation continues after raid
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The probable cause remains unclear after a raid that took place at a Youngstown-based gaming supplier’s corporate office Wednesday afternoon.
The 2750 Salt Springs Road location was named among 34 search warrants executed Wednesday with 30 conducted in Ohio.
Nannicola Inc., a distributor of gaming products, and Playtronics Games Inc., a provider of skill-based games, are both located at that address. Nannicola officials have said that Playtronics was the focus of the search, but law-enforcement officials have been tight lipped.
Agencies involved in the raid included the Ohio Investigative Unit, the U.S. Secret Service, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Though 29 of the search warrants were administered through the state, Youngstown had the only federal search warrant, Greg Croft, an OIU agent, said.
That warrant remains sealed.
The Secret Service led the search at the Salt Springs Road site, while OIU led the search for the remaining Ohio locations, Croft added.
The U.S. Secret Service declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
Searches also were conducted at 1283 Commons Court, Clermont, Fla., where the Florida Bingo Co. LLC and Blue Sky Games LLC both are based; and at Pace-O-Matic Inc. in Norcross, Ga.
On Wednesday, agents filed a total of 525 administrative charges against 22 Ohio liquor permits and seized a total of 148 electronic video gambling devices. The administrative charges were knowingly permitting public gambling; keeper of the place; operating an electronic gambling machine.
The case is part of an ongoing investigation that began in 2013, when OIU, the Secret Service and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office began looking into those responsible for manufacturing, importing, distributing and operating illegal video-slot machines.