Regional News
November 07, 2008 12:20 PM
Joe Fantauzzi, Staff Writer
Several York Region residents have been charged in connection with two separate illegal gambling investigations.
Wednesday, Ontario Provincial Police officers raided Lethal “Q” Billiards and Cafe at 5781 Hwy. 7, west of Martin Grove Road in Woodbridge, following an illegal gambling investigation.
A Texas hold ‘em poker event was under way on four tables when the officers moved in at about 10:30 p.m., Det.-Sgt. Paul Chafe of the OPP’s illegal gambling unit said.
Police seized $12,250 in cash and $9,000 in gambling equipment, which included poker chips, cards and tables.
A total of 43 people were charged including residents of Vaughan, Newmarket and Thornhill, he said.
Forty-one of those people were charged with being found in a common gaming house.
Arash Azadpeyma, 32, of Thornhill and Carmine Sorella, 40, of Newmarket are charged with keeping a common gaming house.
The charges have not been proven.
The next day, illegal gambling unit officers, working with York Regional Police, raided a Maple home and three businesses in Toronto in an unrelated investigation.
Police had received a tip about a distributor of illegal video gaming machines. A probe determined illegal payouts were being provided from video gambling devices at several bars and cafes, OPP said.
Powerhouse Amusements, being run out of a Maple home at 184 Lockheed Ave., near Jane Street and Major Mackenzie Drive was raided in connection with investigation.
Caribbean Pearl Sports Bar & Cafe in North York along with Marlee Sports Bar and Churrasqueira Vaguense Restaurant, both in midtown Toronto, were also raided.
Police seized $8,630 in cash and $10,000 in gambling equipment.
Seven gambling machines were seized, Det.-Sgt. Chafe said.
OPP believe a Maple man was distributing illegal gambling machines to those restaurants, he said.
Four people are charged with keeping machines for gambling.