Toronto Illegal Gambling
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Police have seized a sprawling mansion in a quiet, high-end neighbourhood north of Toronto, along with a million dollars in cash, $1.5 million in alcohol, 11 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition after investigators uncovered the luxury home was allegedly operating as an illegal casino and spa.
York Regional Police unveiled the details of their investigation, dubbed ’Project Endgame,’ at a news conference in Markham, Ont., in front of the gates of the 20,000-sq.-ft. estate Wednesday. Police say it was the site of a massive underground gambling operation, complete with slot machines, mahjong tables, a full cash bar with thousands of bottles of top-shelf alcohol and a banking area.
Police north of Toronto have charged dozens of people and seized millions of dollars in cash and assets following a months-long investigation into alleged illegal gambling. The seizure of three development companies in an investigation of illegal gambling operations shows the growing sophistication and status of outlaw bikers, says the head of Ontario’s biker. The investigation indicated that illegal gambling was also going on at the Markham mansion, and on July 17, York police, together with the Durham Regional Police Service and Ontario Provincial.
Upstairs was a series of bedrooms that appeared to operate as a bed and breakfast. The owner and operator also had a bedroom in the home, where investigators say they found a fully loaded AR-15 rifle with a 30-round magazine along with a 9-mm handgun.
’This is organized crime truly exploiting and demonstrating their money, their positions and opulence thinking somehow that they are above the law,’ York police’s Deputy Chief Brian Bigras told reporters at Wednesday’s press conference.
Police began hearing about the operations around late 2019, but it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that operations seemed to ramp up significantly, said Supt. Mike Slack.
Investigators first executed a search warrant at a Toronto residence on Midland Avenue on July 3, where five people were arrested for gaming offences, and investigators seized gambling tables, video slot machines and $25,000 in cash.
The investigation indicated that illegal gambling was also going on at the Markham mansion, and on July 17, York police, together with the Durham Regional Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police staged a plan to enter the mansion with tactical teams.Toronto Illegal Gambling Advice
WATCH | Police divulge details of massive gaming house bust:
But a helicopter flyover ahead of the operation found several children in the backyard being served by wait staff during what appeared to be a kind of special event. With armed guards stationed around the home, police decided to call off the operation, deciding the situation was too dangerous.
On July 23, a team of 32 investigators and 92 tactical officers descended on the home, where they uncovered what they say was a fully functioning casino operation and arrested dozens of people including the alleged owner and operator, a 32-year-old man.
But the investigation didn’t end there.
Following that raid, police also identified another location in Vaughan, which they identified as the personal residence of one of the gaming house keepers. That individual, a 52-year-old man, was arrested along with his wife and daughter. Police also seized $70,000 and another $10 million in assets.
Twenty-nine people now face some 74 charges in connection with the investigation.
Since then, police say, they’ve executed another five gaming warrants that have led to 47 others being arrested. Those arrests are not currently believed to be linked to the Project Endgame operation, but police say they illustrate that illegal gaming in the area is not limited only to high-end operations.
’Although this location is extravagant and is clearly where the privileged were invited to play ... in the other locations organized crime is preying on the less fortunate, addicted gambler,’ said Slack.Toronto Illegal Gambling Rules
Some of those sites were in such poor condition, Slack said, they could be condemned.
’Instead of providing high-end scotch and wine, gamblers were given methamphetamine and other drugs to keep them awake and gambling,’ he said.
Police say they suspect sex trafficking was also taking place at the mansion and that their investigation remains ongoing.
’The money moving through these underground casinos leads to huge profits for criminals that fund other ventures such as prostitution and drug trafficking. This illegal high-stakes gambling also leads to gun violence, armed robberies, kidnappings, extortion and other serious violent offences within our community,’ said Chief Jim MacSween.
’We will continue to target organized crime in York Region and use every tool at our disposal, including forensic accounting, to ensure these criminals are held accountable.’
Though casinos only just reopened in Ontario this week, gamblers apparently haven’t been putting their high-stakes bidding on hold despite the pandemic, if the huge bust of an illegal casino at a Markham mansion is any indication.
York Regional Police (YRP) announced on Wednesday that they’d raided a 20,000 square foot, $9-million ’palace’ that housed an underground casino and spa that law enforcement had been looking into since May.
In a series of tweets that have some serious Bond/Mission Impossible vibes, the YRP shared a video of their search of the opulent home north of Toronto, along with some impressive stats: $10 million in assets seized (including $1 million in cash and $1.5 million in alcohol), 11 firearms uncovered, and 29 people charged with more than 70 offences.
This $9 million Decourcy Court palace in #Markham was the site of a high-end illegal casino and spa operation recently shut down by @YRP investigators as part of Project Endgame. More at https://t.co/3m7Ct9rNDe. pic.twitter.com/waUAx6yXC4 — York Regional Police (@YRP) September 30, 2020
The force’s social media team clearly had a lot of fun with this one, mentioning the fact that the maximum bet at one of the illicit facility’s tables was a staggering $20,000 and that braised shark fin, a prohibited food item in Canada, was apparently on offer to patrons.
But after months of hard work on what they referred to as Project Endgame, the Intelligence Unit and the Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit definitely deserved to make a big deal of what was indeed a massive bust that was linked to a whole syndicate in the area.
When braised shark fin is on the menu and the max bet at the baccarat table is $20k, you can expect plenty of cash around. To guard that cash, these suspects had guns. Lots of them. Further details at https://t.co/3m7Ct9rNDe. pic.twitter.com/hpl1eCoTSI — York Regional Police (@YRP) September 30, 2020
The search warrant on the property near Warden and Major Mackenzie Drive was actually executed with the help of the Ontario Provincial Police and Durham Regional Police back in late July, and was preceded by the discovery of another illegal casino at Midland and Kennedy Road in Scarborough a few weeks earlier, where five people were arrested and $20,000 was seized.
A few days later, cops made arrests and found more cash — over $70,000 — at yet another related location, this time in near Bathurst and Teston Road in Vaughan.
In total, 45 people were arrested at the three busts over the course of the month, and 33 of them charged. The investigation is also still ongoing, with the cops vowing to continue to crack down on organized crime in the region.
Exceptional job @YRP
Police have seized a sprawling mansion in a quiet, high-end neighbourhood north of Toronto, along with a million dollars in cash, $1.5 million in alcohol, 11 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition after investigators uncovered the luxury home was allegedly operating as an illegal casino and spa.
York Regional Police unveiled the details of their investigation, dubbed ’Project Endgame,’ at a news conference in Markham, Ont., in front of the gates of the 20,000-sq.-ft. estate Wednesday. Police say it was the site of a massive underground gambling operation, complete with slot machines, mahjong tables, a full cash bar with thousands of bottles of top-shelf alcohol and a banking area.
Police north of Toronto have charged dozens of people and seized millions of dollars in cash and assets following a months-long investigation into alleged illegal gambling. The seizure of three development companies in an investigation of illegal gambling operations shows the growing sophistication and status of outlaw bikers, says the head of Ontario’s biker. The investigation indicated that illegal gambling was also going on at the Markham mansion, and on July 17, York police, together with the Durham Regional Police Service and Ontario Provincial.
Upstairs was a series of bedrooms that appeared to operate as a bed and breakfast. The owner and operator also had a bedroom in the home, where investigators say they found a fully loaded AR-15 rifle with a 30-round magazine along with a 9-mm handgun.
’This is organized crime truly exploiting and demonstrating their money, their positions and opulence thinking somehow that they are above the law,’ York police’s Deputy Chief Brian Bigras told reporters at Wednesday’s press conference.
Police began hearing about the operations around late 2019, but it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that operations seemed to ramp up significantly, said Supt. Mike Slack.
Investigators first executed a search warrant at a Toronto residence on Midland Avenue on July 3, where five people were arrested for gaming offences, and investigators seized gambling tables, video slot machines and $25,000 in cash.
The investigation indicated that illegal gambling was also going on at the Markham mansion, and on July 17, York police, together with the Durham Regional Police Service and Ontario Provincial Police staged a plan to enter the mansion with tactical teams.Toronto Illegal Gambling Advice
WATCH | Police divulge details of massive gaming house bust:
But a helicopter flyover ahead of the operation found several children in the backyard being served by wait staff during what appeared to be a kind of special event. With armed guards stationed around the home, police decided to call off the operation, deciding the situation was too dangerous.
On July 23, a team of 32 investigators and 92 tactical officers descended on the home, where they uncovered what they say was a fully functioning casino operation and arrested dozens of people including the alleged owner and operator, a 32-year-old man.
But the investigation didn’t end there.
Following that raid, police also identified another location in Vaughan, which they identified as the personal residence of one of the gaming house keepers. That individual, a 52-year-old man, was arrested along with his wife and daughter. Police also seized $70,000 and another $10 million in assets.
Twenty-nine people now face some 74 charges in connection with the investigation.
Since then, police say, they’ve executed another five gaming warrants that have led to 47 others being arrested. Those arrests are not currently believed to be linked to the Project Endgame operation, but police say they illustrate that illegal gaming in the area is not limited only to high-end operations.
’Although this location is extravagant and is clearly where the privileged were invited to play ... in the other locations organized crime is preying on the less fortunate, addicted gambler,’ said Slack.Toronto Illegal Gambling Rules
Some of those sites were in such poor condition, Slack said, they could be condemned.
’Instead of providing high-end scotch and wine, gamblers were given methamphetamine and other drugs to keep them awake and gambling,’ he said.
Police say they suspect sex trafficking was also taking place at the mansion and that their investigation remains ongoing.
’The money moving through these underground casinos leads to huge profits for criminals that fund other ventures such as prostitution and drug trafficking. This illegal high-stakes gambling also leads to gun violence, armed robberies, kidnappings, extortion and other serious violent offences within our community,’ said Chief Jim MacSween.
’We will continue to target organized crime in York Region and use every tool at our disposal, including forensic accounting, to ensure these criminals are held accountable.’
Though casinos only just reopened in Ontario this week, gamblers apparently haven’t been putting their high-stakes bidding on hold despite the pandemic, if the huge bust of an illegal casino at a Markham mansion is any indication.
York Regional Police (YRP) announced on Wednesday that they’d raided a 20,000 square foot, $9-million ’palace’ that housed an underground casino and spa that law enforcement had been looking into since May.
In a series of tweets that have some serious Bond/Mission Impossible vibes, the YRP shared a video of their search of the opulent home north of Toronto, along with some impressive stats: $10 million in assets seized (including $1 million in cash and $1.5 million in alcohol), 11 firearms uncovered, and 29 people charged with more than 70 offences.
This $9 million Decourcy Court palace in #Markham was the site of a high-end illegal casino and spa operation recently shut down by @YRP investigators as part of Project Endgame. More at https://t.co/3m7Ct9rNDe. pic.twitter.com/waUAx6yXC4 — York Regional Police (@YRP) September 30, 2020
The force’s social media team clearly had a lot of fun with this one, mentioning the fact that the maximum bet at one of the illicit facility’s tables was a staggering $20,000 and that braised shark fin, a prohibited food item in Canada, was apparently on offer to patrons.
But after months of hard work on what they referred to as Project Endgame, the Intelligence Unit and the Guns, Gangs and Drug Enforcement Unit definitely deserved to make a big deal of what was indeed a massive bust that was linked to a whole syndicate in the area.
When braised shark fin is on the menu and the max bet at the baccarat table is $20k, you can expect plenty of cash around. To guard that cash, these suspects had guns. Lots of them. Further details at https://t.co/3m7Ct9rNDe. pic.twitter.com/hpl1eCoTSI — York Regional Police (@YRP) September 30, 2020
The search warrant on the property near Warden and Major Mackenzie Drive was actually executed with the help of the Ontario Provincial Police and Durham Regional Police back in late July, and was preceded by the discovery of another illegal casino at Midland and Kennedy Road in Scarborough a few weeks earlier, where five people were arrested and $20,000 was seized.
A few days later, cops made arrests and found more cash — over $70,000 — at yet another related location, this time in near Bathurst and Teston Road in Vaughan.
In total, 45 people were arrested at the three busts over the course of the month, and 33 of them charged. The investigation is also still ongoing, with the cops vowing to continue to crack down on organized crime in the region.
Exceptional job @YRP
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