Retired NYPD Officer Found Guilty of Running Illegal Poker Operation

A retired NYPD sergeant, Ralph Mastrantonio, who served 20 years on the force was convicted of operating an illegal Texas Hold 'Em poker game in Staten Island.

Ralph was one of the 15 people who were arrested in 2011 in connection with gambling ring in New York City. They were operating illegal high-stakes games at 2298 Arthur Kill Road where Ralph was in charge of dealing cards. He faces up to five years in prison for running illegal gambling operations.

Back then, Queens district attorney’s office received information that one of the NYPD detectives is involved in illegal gambling operations. When the feds busted gambling ring they found out that detective Richard Palase was the ringleader of the gambling operation which, as it was reported, raked in thousands of dollars a night.

Apparently they were able to earn a lot of money because they were operating games almost every night at four different locations. They were also serving food and alcohol to the gamblers. One man was assigned to watch over the operation while security cameras were used as lookouts for law enforcement and robbers.

The police said that all defendants knew each other and that everybody had a role in the operation. It was reported that gambling ring in Staten Island was not connected to organized crime.

Palase, 45, pleaded guilty to running illegal poker game in February this year and admitted that he and four others ran a gambling spot on Arthur Kill Road. He also said that he was aware that unlicensed gambling business is illegal.

Along with Palase, firefighters Michael Bergen, Gerald Parsons and James Bergen were arrested and accused of a variety of gambling-related charges.

Matthew Miller, Brooklyn Assistant US attorney, told the jury that you can’t just open a casino in a commercial building in Staten Island. She also mentioned that dealing cards in unlicensed gambling dens is illegal.

Even though it is illegal, there are numerous cases of undercover gambling operations. In 2014 multibillion sports betting ring was busted in New York City. The ring made millions each month over a 16-month period by accepting bets on professional and collegiate sports. In another case, an organized gambling ring whose members were also selling marijuana was busted in New Jersey in 2013. It was reported that the gambling operation generated a million a week.

Photo: betanews.com