Luck runs out on gambling operation

Nine people have been charged with bookmaking and conspiracy after Philadelphia police broke up what they called a multimillion-dollar gambling operation.

"This was an extremely sophisticated and elaborate sports-betting operation," said Chief Inspector William Colarulo of the Special Investigations Unit. "The phones were ringing off the hook when the officers went in there to make an arrest."

Authorities found detailed sports statistics, including batting averages, and weather conditions stored in computers that those running the operation used to calculate odds for payoffs, said Lt. Charles Green of the Citywide Vice Enforcement Unit.

Officials are trying to determine whether the betting operation has any connection to organized crime and whether it reached beyond state lines. Forensic experts with the federal Department of Justice are analyzing the information stored in computers.

The investigation into the ring began in February, Colarulo said.

Wednesday night, search warrants were executed at 619 Atwood Rd. and 6550 Haverford Ave. in West Philadelphia, where authorities said they found betting records, phone banks, televisions, and computers tied into an expensive server.

Police confiscated $4,650 in cash and found evidence of 1,451 recently placed illegal wagers on sports events, including football, baseball and auto racing, valued at $64,000.

They also found ledgers listing bettors by name.

Colarulo said the bettors had established accounts with the organization and were given code numbers to place bets. Those transactions exceeded $2.5 million, according to the ledgers, police said.

Those ledgers, Colarulo said, "indicated that this was a large-scale gambling operation."

More arrests are expected, police said.

Those already charged were identified as Michael O'Brien, 25, and Brad Pesin, 33, both of Philadelphia; John McDonald, 48, of Upper Darby; Leonard Gesualdo 3d, 23, of Havertown; Gregory Graham, 25, of Drexel Hill; Henry Paris, 32, of Springfield, Delaware County; Michael J. Feliziani, 42, of Secane; Vittorio Manzi, 33, of Turnersville; and Stephen L. Loehrs, 30, of Wilmington.