The sign taped across the front of the Dodge City video poker machine read "for amusement only."
It was, federal prosecutors said, false advertising.
Video poker machines have long been a major money-maker for the mob, according to law enforcement authorities, and Wednesday the jury in the racketeering trial of mob boss Joseph "Uncle Joe" Ligambi and six co-defendants got a detailed lesson about the ins and outs of the business.
The testimony from James Dunlap, a retired Baltimore police detective and nationally recognized gambling expert, set the stage for the next phase of the six-week old trial. On Thursday Curt Arbitman, described by investigators as a major distributor ofillegal poker machines in South Philadelphia, is expected to take the stand for the prosecution and discuss his business dealings with Ligambi and co-defendants Anthony Staino and Joseph "Mousie" Massimino among others.
Arbitman's warehouse/garage on Mountain Street in South Philadelphia was the target of a raid in September 2009. Dozens of machines were seized that day at the garage and at several bars in South Philadelphia. The raids were parrt of an ongoing investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police and Attorney General's Office.
Evidence gathered in that probe wasturned over to federal authorities and was incorporated in the racketeering conspiracy indictment handed up against Ligambi, 73, and the others in May 2011.
You can read the rest of the story via the below link:
http://www.bigtrial.net/2012/11/for-amusement-only.html
You can also read George Anastasia's other pieces on the organized crime trial via the below link:
http://www.bigtrial.net/
Evidence gathered in that probe wasturned over to federal authorities and was incorporated in the racketeering crime blog conspiracy indictment handed up against Ligambi,
ReplyDelete