 Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter! |
Gaming News
Ex-Gaming Officer Admitted to Role in Bingo Robbery31 July 2002CONCORD, New Hampshire – As reported by the New Hampshire Telegraph: "A former state gaming enforcement officer admitted Monday that he tried to hire someone to rob a Hudson man who runs bingo games for the Hudson Veterans of Foreign Wars post, the prosecutor said. "Donald Blake, 53, formerly of 16 Melendy Road, Hudson, has been jailed since his arrest in February. His sentencing is scheduled Oct. 29 in U.S. District Court, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Zuckerman said. "Blake admitted to plotting to rob Marcel `Mike' Gosselin of Hudson, who runs bingo games for the Hudson VFW Post 5791 at the Kiwanis Hall at 14 Melendy Road – next door to Blake's house. "Unbeknownst to Blake, however, the man with whom he arranged the robbery was an undercover FBI agent. "…Blake pleaded guilty to violating the federal Hobbs Act, which governs interstate commerce, Zuckerman said. The charge carries a maximum of 20 years in prison, but Blake will likely get less because of his lack of prior criminal record, he said. "Blake's lawyer, Federal Defender Jonathan Saxe, said he will seek a lesser sentence, arguing that Blake was, to some extent, entrapped by the FBI, and that, despite his plotting, the robbery was never attempted and no one got hurt. "…Blake worked for the state Department of Safety for about 10 years before resigning about four years ago. Gaming enforcement officers inspect all gambling and games of chance in the state, to make sure they follow state laws. "Blake's wife, Louise Blake, formerly ran a concession stand during bingo games at the Kiwanis Hall. "Authorities have refused to say whether Blake's plot was related to an earlier attempt to rob Gosselin. Mark Rivela, 36, formerly of Derry, is charged with holding up Gosselin and two other men outside the Kiwanis Hall on Oct. 7, 2001…" |