A Philadelphia family and several others stand charged with running a street gambling ring which spanned the city and generated multimillion dollars for its organizer, the Philadelphia district attorney said Friday.
Gary Creagh, Sr., 66, is implicated as the ring leader who allegedly employed dozens of staffers to run upwards of 40 gambling spots across Philly, prosecutors said.
Operating out of nondescript storefronts, mostly in low-income neighborhoods, two Creagh staffers would take bets on lottery numbers and horse races, according to prosecutors. Winners would get payouts 200-times larger than Pennsylvania's lottery.
The number halls would have phones, coffee and a table where the bets were taken, officials said. Prosecutors allege Creagh made more than $3 million through the venture over a three year period.
Undercover officers visited many of the locations as part of a large sting operation.
Creagh faces corrupt organization and conspiracy charges. He is being held in a Philadelphia jail on $250,000 bail. Attorney information was not listed in court records.
Several of Creagh's family members — including his daughter — are also charged in the case:
- Frank Creagh, 50; nephew
- William Creagh, 49
- Kerri Creagh, 50; daughter
- Mark Matera, 62
- John McAnaney, 84
- Jabbar Curry, 57
- Keith Athy, 76
- Carlos Santiago, 78
Each of the accused face up to 65 years in prison, if convicted.
