Boardman man pleads guilty to internet cafe charge Wednesday
Staff report
AUSTINTOWN
A Boardman man pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of gambling in connection with running an Internet cafe last summer.
Anthony J. Beshara, of Devonshire Drive in Boardman, pleaded guilty to a first-degree misdemeanor charge of gambling for operating the Gold Strike Cafe, 5335 Seventy-Six Drive. That charge was because the Internet cafe was giving cash payouts in violation of state law.
Beshara appeared for his arraignment and plea deal at the same time Wednesday morning in Mahoning County Area Court. He owes about $350 in fines and court costs and will be on probation for three years.
That plea deal “was prepared by us. It was negotiated by us,” said Ken Cardinal, Mahoning County assistant prosecutor, in court Wednesday.
The Gold Strike Cafe was one of four locations raided by authorities in June 2014. Other places that were raided then are: Internet Palace, 5523 Mahoning Ave.; Club 76 on Seventy-Six Drive, in the same strip mall as Gold Strike Cafe; and a residence of one of the cafe owners in North Jackson.
“All the other ones are still under open investigation,” said Austintown Lt. Jeff Solic, commander of the Mahoning Valley Law Enforcement Task Force.