Ohio Police Pull Daring Gambling Raid on Charitable Organization

Yes, gambling is illegal in certain states and under certain conditions. So is jaywalking, but there never seems to be a multi-agency sting taking down jaywalkers.

Once again, legal authorities have spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to undertake a long-term investigation into illegal gambling, culminating in raids that led to the seizure of gambling paraphernalia. Police in West Carrolton and Medway, Ohio, used five search warrants to invade two Fraternal Order of the Orioles posts in search of illicit gambling.

Officials representing a plethora of law enforcement agencies, including the Tactical Crime Suppression Unit, the Internal Rvenue Service Criminal Investigation Department, the Ohio Atorney General's Office, The Clark County Sheriff's Office, and numerous smalltown police departments such as the West Carrolton Police, simultaneously served the five warrants on the premises of the Orioles posts and the home of the operator of the posts.

No arrests were made, but gaming tables, chips, and cards were confiscated, and almost 100 patrons were interviewed. Charges may be forthcoming at the discretion of the IRS and the assistant U.S. Attorney General.

The Fraternal Order of the Orioles is a charitable and social institution created in Rochester, New York in 1910. It is an organization dedicated to fundraising and community service. Clearly, this is the kind of group police need to investigate in expensive undercover operations which span agencies, and just coincidentally put some politically-minded names from these agencies into newspapers. The criminals involved in this investigation requiring such an investment of funds and personnel were so dangerous, they were all allowed to continue roaming the streets while further headlines... err, charges could be pursued.

Yes, gambling is illegal in certain states and under certain conditions. So is jaywalking, but there never seems to be a multi-agency sting taking down jaywalkers. Other than potentially tragic consequences for the few individuals who will be charged, the long-term effect of this massive publicity stunt is likely to be the gray cloud which will hover over the Orioles' Supreme Celebration in Lima, Ohio in April.