The News Room [News Release] Deputies seize $2.2M in illegal gambling money --- Warrants issued for 5 family members in connection with lottery business
Working out of modest homes in Oak Park and Detroit, Evans said, the suspects appear to have operated what may be the Detroit area’s largest illegal numbers operation, Evans said. While the amount of the seizure is the largest in Sheriff’s Office’s history, it pales in comparison to what investigators say may be hundreds of millions of dollars the family has handled in the more than 30 years it has been in operation. “Numbers operations have been around for several decades before the lottery, but this is the largest we have seriously disrupted,” Evans said. “They appear to have a large customer base, and to have handled a tremendous amount of money over period we believe they operated.” Evans said the business ran nearly identical to the Michigan State Lottery, with midday and evening draws. The operators of the business allegedly collected money and paid out awards based on the three- and four-digit numbers drawn by the state. By sidestepping the bureaucracy of the lottery and avoiding tax implications, payouts and profits were much higher. According to investigators, the business netted approximately $40,000 per week in profits. Prosecutor Worthy issued warrants for the individuals believed to have run the business, including the family’s 77-year old matriarch. The other family members alleged to have been actively involved in the business include the woman’s daughter, granddaughter and two grandsons. They are:
One other individual, John Cunningham, 62, of Oak Park, who is not related to the family, also has been charged. Prosecutor Worthy Stated: “It is regrettable that they were allegedly involved in illegal activity. As a result of the forfeiture laws, the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office will be able to continue to root out crime. That is especially helpful in these difficult times.” All six of the defendants are being charged with two felony counts of Conspiracy-Gambling carrying a maximum penalty of 5 years and/or $10,000 fine. All of the defendants also are being charged with two misdemeanor counts of Gambling-Taking Bets and Gambling-Registering Bets, both of which carry a maximum penalty of one year’s incarceration and/or a $1,000 fine. Each defendant is expected to be arraigned Monday in 36th District Court. The seized cash has been deposited in an interest-bearing bank account pending the outcome of the case. If the suspects are found guilty, the seized money will be forfeited to the county and used for additional law enforcement activities. Evans said that he will use any revenue his office receives to fund more in-depth investigations into suspected criminal enterprises. “Receiving a large infusion of revenue like this would allow us to put more effort into finding the people who are the heads of these criminal enterprises, whether its drug-related, theft-related or something else,” Evans said. ### |
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Warren
C. Evans
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Wayne County Sheriff’s Deputies have obtained arrest warrants
for five Metro Detroit family members and one other individual
in connection with an alleged illegal lottery-style operation they
raided on March 14th. At the time of the bust, officers found approximately
$2.2 million in cash they believe to be gambling proceeds, according
to Sheriff Warren Evans. Prosecutor Kym Worthy issued the warrants
yesterday.