Staff writer
A Cecil Township man believed to be one of the leaders in a gambling operation that has been the focus of a federal investigation for more than two years was charged Friday in federal court.
Edward Lazorchak of 1000 Fawn Valley Drive was charged in connection with the sports, numbers and ticket gambling operation. Also charged for his alleged role in the operation was Dennis (Denny) Williams of 112 Mawhinney Road, Cecil.
Lazorchak is charged with conspiracy to conduct an illegal gambling operation, conducting financial transactions affecting interstate commerce using the gambling proceeds and filing false tax returns for 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. The federal government is seeking forfeiture of $25,282 seized from his home on July 1, 2006; $21,900 from two frozen bank accounts; a 2005 Dodge pickup truck; a diamond and platinum wrist watch; and any other proceeds of the gambling.
Williams is charged with conspiracy to commit gambling and filing a false tax return for 2004.
The illegal gambling ring reportedly operated from 2002 to 2006 in the Canonsburg area.
According to information filed in court, Lazorchak and a person identified only as AC owned and operated the illegal gambling business.
AC is believed to be Allan Richard (Michael) Campbell. Campbell's home at 121 Fort Cherry Road, Mt. Pleasant Township, also was searched by Internal Revenue Service agents and state police on July 1, 2006. Items, including vehicles, were removed from the house. He has not been charged.
The betting involved individuals placing bets on sporting events, especially college and professional football, through others involved in the operation. A dozen other people, including Campbell's former son-in-law, have pleaded guilty in federal court in connection with the investigation.
According to federal court documents, once a week, money was collected from the losing bettors and paid to the winners by Lazorchak and Campbell. Lazorchak and Campbell received 15 percent of the weekly profits from the losing bets, the documents state.
They also reportedly had a numbers operation based on the Pennsylvania Lottery's Daily Number. Lazorchak received 25 percent of the weekly profits from the losing bettors, according to federal investigators. The two also held an illegal drawing game every three months, investigators said. The tickets sold for $100 with the gambling organization making $15,000, while the holder of the winning ticket would get $85,000. The organization sold as many as five sets of 1,000 tickets.
Lazorchak used $2,500 of his gambling proceeds toward the purchase of a 2006 Dodge Ram pickup truck from a dealership in Elm Grove, W.Va., according to documents.
Williams is accused of accepting sports bets, selling tickets for the illegal drawing, collecting gambling debts from the losers and making payments to the winners. An undercover state trooper reportedly saw Williams receiving and recording sports bets at Cuddy Sports Club in October 2005. He also collected proceeds from the sale of tickets for the illegal ticket game.
U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan filed the information in court.