McKeesport Councilman Sentenced In Mon Valley Gambling Ring Case
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – McKeesport City Councilman Daniel Carr pleaded guilty to allowing gambling devices in his bar, the Viking Lounge, and was sentenced to 10 months of probation plus a $300 fine, similar to the sentence for other defendants in this case.
The case was part of a State Police gambling raid in 2012.
Allegheny County Judge Joseph Williams told Carr even though more bars had those devices than not, he could not turn his head to the violation of the law.
Prosecutors say that while Carr owned the bar the illegal machines were not only on premises, but once seized in a raid, Carr was allegedly heard on a wiretap discussing ways of replacing those machines.
Those discussions, say investigators, included the alleged mastermind of the operation: Ronald "Porky" Melocchi of Glassport who is charged with operating the enterprise out of a garage.
At sentencing, Carr told the judge about all the civic work he has done and apologized.
"I apologize for the poor choice I made in allowing the machines in the business I once owned. I have a lifetime of service in the community," Carr told the judge.
During the hearing, Judge Williams said it's likely that there are more bars that have video poker machines than those that don't.
Neither Carr nor his attorney would comment after the hearing.
Of the original 16 charged, Melocchi and three others have cases still pending.
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