Poker Machines Seized in Nassau

February 8, 2009

Nassau police have cracked down and made arrests during a poker sting operation that they ran last week. They said that they had received a tip that there was an illegal poker operation being run, so they went undercover and ran a six month investigation into the reported locations. What they found was much more than they had originally thought it would be.

During the course of their raid, they arrest seventeen people and seized twenty video poker machines. The poker machines were located in delis, restaurants and bars in both Freeport and Roosevelt according to Nassau police. They also seized two handguns and almost $40,000 in cash. The games that were seized were the ever popular “Joker Poker.”

During their six month investigation, undercover police entered into the various establishments and played the illegal poker machines. They simply gathered evidence against the places that were hosting them and made notes as to who was there and when. They worked with the Nassau District Attorney’s Office as well to coordinate the arrests.

Everyone arrested was charged with promoting gambling and were given desk appearance tickets. They all have to appear in court on February 17th in Hempstead. They are to report to the First District Court and will be arraigned then.

The list of those arrested is as follows: Francisco Abreu, 45; Jose A. Almonte, 35; Franklin Castro, 36; Leonardo Collado, 41; Jose S. Flores, 36; Pedro Galvan, 58; Marcos A. Garcia, 49; Johnny Gonzalez, 44; Ziad Kharoufa, 49; Jose B. Marmol-Castillo, 61; Maximo Ramon Moran, 46; Michael Olivo, 24; Luis Ramirez, 44; Angel Rodriguez, 58; Torres Rodriguez, 45; Dilia M. Vargas, 64; and Rosa Ventura, 37.