Gambling House Raid
Though casinos only just reopened in Ontario this week, gamblers apparently haven't been putting their high-stakes bidding on hold despite the pandemic, if the huge bust of an illegal casino at a Markham mansion is any indication.
Police raid illegal mansion casino near Toronto and find $1M in James Bond-esque bust. This illegal high-stakes gambling also leads to gun violence, armed robberies, kidnappings, extortion. Raids on illegal gambling spots have been making headlines in California in recent years. In February of 2018, law enforcement raided a Westminster restaurant used for underground betting. Sheriff’s officials raided a Norwalk storefront and found computers used for illegal gambling in August 2018.
Gambling House Edge
- Around 6:00am, the East County Gang Task Force conducted a raid on a reported gambling house in National City. Two people inside the house were detained.
- Multiple charges have been laid after a police search warrant uncovered what investigators allege was an illegal gaming house operating in Toronto’s York neighbourhood. 4th at around 8:45 p.m., police and bylaw officers raided a social club in the Lawrence Avenue West and Marlee Avenue area, police said. Police said during the raid.
- The property, located in Scarborough near Midland and Finch avenues, was “being run as an illegal gaming house,” police allege. At the time, officers seized more than $20,000, as well as.
York Regional Police (YRP) announced on Wednesday that they'd raided a 20,000 square foot, $9-million 'palace' that housed an underground casino and spa that law enforcement had been looking into since May.
In a series of tweets that have some serious Bond/Mission Impossible vibes, the YRP shared a video of their search of the opulent home north of Toronto, along with some impressive stats: $10 million in assets seized (including $1 million in cash and $1.5 million in alcohol), 11 firearms uncovered, and 29 people charged with more than 70 offences.
This $9 million Decourcy Court palace in #Markham was the site of a high-end illegal casino and spa operation recently shut down by @YRP investigators as part of Project Endgame. More at https://t.co/3m7Ct9rNDe. pic.twitter.com/waUAx6yXC4
— York Regional Police (@YRP) September 30, 2020The force's social media team clearly had a lot of fun with this one, mentioning the fact that the maximum bet at one of the illicit facility's tables was a staggering $20,000 and that braised shark fin, a prohibited food item in Canada, was apparently on offer to patrons.
But after months of hard work on what they referred to as Project Endgame, the Intelligence Unit and the Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit definitely deserved to make a big deal of what was indeed a massive bust that was linked to a whole syndicate in the area.
When braised shark fin is on the menu and the max bet at the baccarat table is $20k, you can expect plenty of cash around. To guard that cash, these suspects had guns. Lots of them. Further details at https://t.co/3m7Ct9rNDe. pic.twitter.com/hpl1eCoTSI
— York Regional Police (@YRP) September 30, 2020The search warrant on the property near Warden and Major Mackenzie Drive was actually executed with the help of the Ontario Provincial Police and Durham Regional Police back in late July, and was preceded by the discovery of another illegal casino at Midland and Kennedy Road in Scarborough a few weeks earlier, where five people were arrested and $20,000 was seized.
A few days later, cops made arrests and found more cash — over $70,000 — at yet another related location, this time in near Bathurst and Teston Road in Vaughan.
In total, 45 people were arrested at the three busts over the course of the month, and 33 of them charged. The investigation is also still ongoing, with the cops vowing to continue to crack down on organized crime in the region.
Exceptional job @YRP 👏👍👏
Massive criminal operation with so many facets: human/sex trafficking, drug trafficking, drugging casino participants, money laundering, trade in illegal animal products - stuffed polar bear on display in the property.
Pure contempt for the law & 🇨🇦
'While the total value of these seizures is significant, this is only the start of our efforts to dismantle organized crime groups who are operating illegal gaming operations in York Region,' YRP Chief Jim MacSween said in a press release about the charges.
'The money moving through these underground casinos leads to huge profits for criminals that fund other ventures such as prostitution and drug trafficking. This illegal high-stakes gambling also leads to gun violence, armed robberies, kidnappings, extortion and other serious violent offences within our community.'
One can safely bet that the perpetrators are surely regretting their high-rolling antics now.
MOSS POINT, Mississippi -- A raid on a home suspected of being a gambling house sent 8 people to jail on a variety of charges on Sunday, according to a news release from Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd.
Two others were arrested during the raid on a separate case.
The gambling sting was a joint operation with the Narcotics Task Force in Jackson County and Jackson County Sheriff's Criminal Investigation Division, K-9 Division and patrol deputies.
About 10 officers raided the house at 5230 Billy Street in Moss Point near the Sue Ellen Recreation Center. The people arrested were placing football bets at the home, but parking at the recreation center. The raid took place shortly before the Sunday NFL games kicked off.
During the operation, $2,196 was seized along with a variety of drugs and gambling paraphernalia.
Kelvin Reginal Monroe, 49, lives at the home and was charged on an operating a gambling house offense. Monroe was convicted of the same charge in 1999.
Others arrested were: Perry Megail Jointer, 30, of Moss Point, on possession of spice; William Lewis Johnson, 26, of Moss Point, on gambling; Patrick Laster, 41, of Moss Point, on gambling; Regional Terrel Stallworth, 38, of Moss Point on gambling; Cory Tate, 31, of Moss Point, on gambling; Lavern Hardimon, 49, of Moss Point, on gambling; William Andrew Fairley, 60, of Moss Point, on gambling; Lachundia Oatis, 40, of Moss Point, on gambling.
David Lee 'Slick Dave' McCovery was arrested and charged on a possession of marijuana offense during the operation. He was arrested the day before -- Friday, Oct. 19 -- by drug agents on the same charge at his Frederick Street home.
Following the operation, the task forces canvased a known drug area called 'The Hole' in Kreole, which is inside the Moss Point city limits.
Agents witnessed a drug exchange at 4119 Grace Street that led to the arrests of Eric Eugene 'E-40' Tait, 40, and James David Rivers, Jr., 40.
Rivers was released from prison four months ago to an early release program. He was previously convicted of shoplifting and possession of a firearm by a felon. Both men were charged on possession of crack cocaine. The house is abandoned and belonged to Tait's late grandmother. Inside officers discovered jewelry, cell phones and EBT cards believed to have been stolen and traded for crack or other drugs. Officers also seized $2,516 that was bundled and in various places of the house.
Gambling House Raiders
Byrd said anyone with information about drug activity in Jackson County should call the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County at 228-769-3302.