Former Cop Convicted Of Running Underground Poker RoomRalph Mastrantonio Faces Up To Five Years In Prison |
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According to the New York Daily News, retired NYPD sergeant Ralph Mastrantonio was convicted Thursday of operating an illegal, underground poker game in Staten Island.
He faces up to five years in prison for the poker room dubbed “5th Street”. The operation served alcohol and food, according to the report, in addition to taking a rake.
The 55-year-old was part of a probe that began in 2011.
The poker game took in “thousands of dollars” per night.
“You can’t just open a casino in a commercial building in Staten Island and dealing cards in an unlicensed gambling business is illegal,” Assistant Brooklyn U.S. Attorney Matthew Miller told the jury.
Underground poker rooms are not uncommon in and around New York City, but they don’t often involve a retired police officer running the games.