‘Operation Pork Chop” Gambling Defendants Arraigned
The last of 16 individuals indicted for running an illegal gambling operation last September were arraigned this Tuesday in Allegheny County (Pennsylvania) Common Pleas Court. All but two of the individuals are charged with conspiracy. Some face other charges such as illegal gambling.
“Operation Pork Chop”, as it was named, netted Ronald “Porky” Melocchi, 55, of West Newton, as well as Daniel K. Carr, Ronald D. Prest, Kirk A. Mollica, Frank C. Reese, Robert H. Bogesdorfer, Catherine Gouker and Mark Novakovich. All waived charges on Nov. 20 before Magisterial District Judge Thomas P. Caulfield.
Another defendant, Eugene T. “Red” Kowalski, 65, of North Huntingdon Township, is scheduled to go on trial in the coming days.
All 16 suspects remain free on nonmonetary bond and the investigation is said to be ongoing.
A former McKeesport police lieutenant, Arthur Pero, 56, was among those charged. He is alleged to have taken bets from an undercover State Police officer inside a coffee shop owned by the ringleader, Ronald “Porky” Melocchi.
Mr. Melocchi controlled the gambling lottery and bookmaking operation through his Glassport-based business, Back Alley Vending, according to a grand jury presentment in the case.
- Gilbert Horowitz, Gambling911.com
