Boardman cops, BCI raid 3 internet cafes

By BRUCE WALTON

bwalton@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Sixty to 70 computer stations and more than 100 other items were taken from three township internet cafe sites that police allege are involved in an illegal internet gambling operation.

Township police, with the help of agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, conducted raids Wednesday morning at the properties, seizing various items as evidence and loading them into moving vans.

Police Chief Jack Nichols said the locations are Lucky’s Internet Cafe, 685 Boardman-Canfield Road; Players Lounge in the Boardman Plaza on Boardman-Canfield Road; and Play Skilz Arcade on Market Street south of the Southern Park Mall.

Nichols said he didn’t believe the owners were aware of the search police conducted Wednesday. He said no arrests were made Wednesday and may not be “for a while.”

“One of the problems we had was that it was difficult to determine who actually owns these places,” he said.

Officials also seized a large amount of paperwork that they hope will identify the owners.

The investigation began several months ago when Nichols said he received a series of complaints about the locations operating outside of the law.

Nichols said officers began conducting undercover investigations until they had enough evidence to move forward with a search warrant.

Under Ohio law, gambling is legal, but the chief said only under certain circumstances.

“The wholesale value of a merchandise prize awarded as a result of the single play of a machine does not exceed $10,” states the Ohio Revised Code. Investigators reported the internet cafes not only gave cash instead of prizes, but also amounts well exceeding $10.

Nichols said evidence didn’t confirm that any of the three internet cafes are related to each other. The managers or owners, however, could still be possibly related to other locations.

“It’s hard to tell. We’re always on the lookout for stuff like this,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard to take some time to put cases together.”

It’s not known how much money was circulated through the three locations.

After finishing the searches, Nichols said agents and officers began reviewing evidence. They then plan to take their findings to the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s office to decide on potential charges.