Pennsylvania lawmaker convicted in illegal gambling case

Seven term Pennsylvania Rep. Marc Gergely has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and accepting an illegal campaign contribution in a Pittsburgh court, avoiding felony charges which have been dropped.

Gergely was convicted of using his political influence to benefit an illegal gambling ring and will be sentenced on November 6.

Along with attorney Louis Caputo (who also pleaded guilty to criminal solicitation in the same case and was sentenced to 5 years’ probation) Gergely appeared before Allegheny Common Pleas Judge Edward Borkowski Tuesday.

The court heard that Gergely and Caputo assisted Ronald “Porky” Melocchi in an illegal video gambling operation that had some 335 machines at 70 restaurants, bars, bowling alleys and other locations. Melocchi, whose McKeesport operation was raided in 2013, pleaded guilty and was sentenced last year to 10 years’ probation.

A 2016 grand jury indictment alleged that Gergely used his position to assuage the fears of business owners who were leery of putting gambling machines in their establishments.

After the charges were filed, Gergely stepped down from his position as the ranking Democrat on the House Labor and Industry Committee. He was re-elected to the House seat in November.

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