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Arrests made in illegal gambling case
BOARDMAN
Four people were arrested Thursday as part of an investigation into illegal gambling at two township businesses, according to a township police report and information provided by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office.
Mandi Bero, 37, and Miracle Petrino, 46, both of Canfield, face charges in connection with an illegal gambling investigation at Lucky’s Internet Cafe on Boardman-Canfield Road, said Jill Del Greco, spokeswoman for the AG’s office. Bero and Petrino are charged with two counts each of gambling and one count each of operating a gambling house, according to court records.
Karen Maselli, 68, of Pittsburgh, and Dustee Tomaiko, 45, of Randolph, face charges in connection with an illegal gambling investigation at Play Skilz Arcade on Market Street, according to the AG’s office. According to court records, Maselli and Tomaiko are charged with four counts each of gambling and two counts each of operating a gambling house.
All of the listed charges are misdemeanors.
All four suspects appeared in Mahoning County Area Court on Thursday for arraignment, where they pleaded not guilty.
The AG’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation began investigating the establishments at the request of township police, said Del Greco. Search warrants previously were executed at both locations.
Township police and BCI agents raided the locations, as well as another one in Boardman Plaza, Dec. 7, according to Vindicator files. Sixty to 70 computer stations and more than 100 other items were taken from the three locations. Township Police Chief Jack Nichols said at the time that complaints led undercover police officers to begin investigating the businesses, eventually leading police to get search warrants.
Under state law, prizes “awarded as a result of the single play of a machine” cannot exceed $10.
Del Greco said she could not offer further comment on the case, as the investigation is ongoing.