Local man charged with running illegal betting operation
A South Union Township man will face trial in Fayette County Court on charges that he allegedly ran an illegal betting operation out of Redstone Pharmacy in Republic. Sidney Jay Winfrey, 52, of 350 Brownfield Lane, was charged by the state police organized crime task force with running illegal lottery games, selling illegal lottery tickets, selling illegal raffle tickets and pool selling and bookmaking.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, the investigation into Winfrey began in April 2009 after an informant said Winfrey was a “known bookie” in the Uniontown area, and he was known to keep large sums of money on hand at his home. Winfrey also had been robbed of more than $60,000 from his home, the affidavit states.
Police said a second confidential informant said Winfrey is a known bookie and also was active in dealing with stolen property. Winfrey frequently arrived at Redstone Pharmacy on Sunday mornings to settle the week’s bets, according to the affidavit.
Police said surveillance confirmed that Winfrey met with various people in a back room of the pharmacy to “collect payments and make payouts.”
During the course of the investigation, police searched Winfrey’s trash on three occasions and each time, found bet sheets, raffle tickets, strip tickets and tally sheets for raffle sales.
Among the findings were tickets to benefit “S&J Hunting and Fishing;” eight $17,000 tickets to benefit “West Side Social Club” based on the Pennsylvania Lottery and one $8,000 ticket to benefit “P&E Building Fund.”
On Oct. 28, Winfrey’s home was searched and more than $74,000 in cash was found in bedrooms in the home. Also found were financial documents, raffle tickets, unsold raffle tickets, raffle ticket stubs, bland promissory notes, financial statements and gambling documents and records, police said. Winfrey was charged with the crimes on Nov. 23.
Earlier this week, Winfrey waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Joseph George Jr. He is free on $1,000 unsecured bond.