Two people, Luis Loja-Caguana and Zoila Castro, were recently arrested and are facing charges related to these gambling rings. According to CBS News, Loja-Caguana is charged with keeper of a disorderly home, gaming or betting, and place for registering bets, while Castro faces a charge of selling liquor. The incident has shaken the Milford community, leaving many to wonder how many more gambling rings are hiding in plain sight.
Deputy Police Chief Robert Tusino expressed disbelief at the scale and audacity of these secret operations. As Milford Daily News reported, Ankara said, "It's really unbelievable about what is happening and the amount of money changing hands. Throughout the town, we have different locations that are having volleyball tournaments. They do it under the guise of just being a group of friends, but what we found is that these are significant operations."
A task force was formed four months ago in response to numerous complaints about gambling operations. Composed of representatives from the Police Department, Building Department, and Health Department, the task force began investigations using undercover operations and drones to expose these activities. Select Board Chair Paul Mazzuchelli said elderly residents have been strongly affected by the disturbances caused by the gambling rings, lamenting the excess of everything and the amount of distress they brought to the community.
During the arrests, police seized approximately $10,000 in cash. However, this is believed to be just a fraction of the money that has changed hands within these gambling operations. According to Telegram, Deputy Chief Tusino estimated hundreds of thousands of dollars per year are being generated from these illicit activities.
The investigation is still ongoing, with authorities exploring potential violations regarding building and health codes. Moreover, other arrests are expected to follow, as police are actively looking to identify other participants in these gambling rings. Meanwhile, the Milford community remains vigilant against illegal activities disguised as seemingly harmless gatherings.
