More than a dozen charged in connection to gambling ring

A 16-month investigation into organized crime in the Hudson Valley has resulted in 14 people charged with various gambling offenses. Ten of the 14 suspects, ranging in age from 27 to 74, were arraigned

News 12 Staff

Dec 3, 2014, 4:18 AM

Updated 3,653 days ago

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A 16-month investigation into organized crime in the Hudson Valley has resulted in 14 people charged with various gambling offenses.
Ten of the 14 suspects, ranging in age from 27 to 74, were arraigned in Clarkstown Town Court Tuesday morning.
According to District Attorney Tom Zugibe, they worked at varying levels of the gambling ring.
Among those charged is 48-year-old Robert Wisiak, who is also a professional poker player.
The oldest person arrested is 74-year-old Richard Simko, of Tomkins Cove, who was interviewed by News 12 in 2011.
Zugibe says many people, including those charged in this case, may think of gambling as a victimless crime. Zugibe says gambling is the main source of revenue for organized crime, and the people involved make sure it produces money. He says he wants the arrests to keep pressure on the organized crime organizations behind these operations.
Four people charged in the case have not yet been arrested for various reasons. Those arrested are due back in court Jan. 26.