Dozens indicted after internet cafe sting

The Sting takes place!

ELYRIA — Several individuals were indicted on charges in connection with last month’s raids of internet cafes throughout Lorain County.

10 secret indictments in connection to the raids were unsealed, according to court documents. Audrey Cole, 45, of Stow; Roscoe Blankenship, 46, of Clinton; Edward Simon, 46, of Canton; Edward Brown, 54, of Barberton; James Cole, 52, of Stow; Diana Scribner, 52, of Amherst; Zachary Brown, 28, of Barberton; Donald Pasters, 52, of Grafton; Joshua Woehler, of Barberton; and Kimberly Strader, 55, of Amherst, were indicted on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and charges linked to operating a gambling casino.

Some of the individuals also were indicted on counts of money laundering and operating a gambling house. The indictments also include specifications in which the state aims to seize assets such as bank accounts and vehicles.

According to the Lorain County Prosecutor’s Office, a Lorain County grand jury returned indictments on dozens of individuals and corporations that “conducted illegal casino gaming in Lorain County.”

“These indictments are the result of an ongoing investigation involving numerous law enforcement agencies including the Ohio Casino Control Commission, the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office and a number of other area police agencies,” County Prosecutor Dennis Will said in a statement. “Each indictment includes counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, money laundering, casino gaming operation and/or operating a gambling house.”

On Aug. 15, several internet cafes throughout the county were raided as part of a coordinated investigation by a host of state and local agencies.

Law enforcement, including Lorain, Amherst and Sheffield police, Lorain County Sheriff’s deputies, the Ohio Department of Taxation Criminal Investigations Division and the Ohio Casino Control Commission, raided several internet cafes, including one in Midview Plaza in Eaton Township and three in Sheffield Township along North Ridge Road.

Ohio Casino Control Commission spokeswoman Jessica Franks said the commission was assisting in the raid in an illegal gambling investigation and directed further inquiries to the prosecutor’s office.

Will’s office said search and seizure warrants were served in multiple counties — Summit, Cuyahoga, Erie, Stark and Ottawa in addition to Lorain — for a multi-agency investigation into illegal gambling.

“The indictments address the drain on our community tax base and the victimization of members of the community who are among the most vulnerable to financial manipulation,” Will said. “The prosecutor’s office and its law enforcement partners will continue to use all the tools at their disposal to uphold Ohio law and protect the community.”

Will also said attorneys representing individuals listed below have been notified to have their clients surrender to law enforcement:

•  John Grace
•  198 Cook Court, LLC
•  Boost Marketing, LLC
•  Club Royal, LLC
•  FF&G Entertainment, LLC
•  Five Star Financial, LLC
•  Goldfinger International, LLC
•  JW Marketing, LLC
•  Ohio Vending Machine, Inc.
•  One Star Financial, LLC
•  Real Sweeps, LLC
•  William Janowich
•  Diane Janowich
•  Gamer’s Club Amherst, Inc.
•  J-Link, Inc.
•  Neuvo Management, Inc.
• PC Tel Co.
•  Vermilion Tel. Co.
•  Roscoe Blankenship
•  Edward Brown
•  Edward Simon
•  Zachary Brown
•  Joshua Woehler
•  747 90th Street Ocean, LLC
•  B&E Holdings, LLC
•  Big Hits Entertainment, Inc.
•  Chassin Sevens Entertainment, Inc.
•  Joshua Woehler Enterprises, Inc.
•  JW Entertainment, Inc.
•  Robinson Avenue 1252, LLC
•  Sheffield Village Entertainment, Inc.
•  State Street Tire, Inc.
•  The Woehler Group, Inc.
•  ZEB Vending, LLC
•  Zeros & 1’s Compliance Testing, LLC
•  Audrey Cole
•  James Cole
•  Mad Squirrel Investments, LLC
•  Donald Pasters
•  Diana Scribner
•  Antonio Coreno
•  Sourine Coreno
•  Lady Luck Sweepstakes, Ltd.
•  Talk & Play Marketing, LLC
•  Robert Anthony
•  Great Source Investments, LLC
•  Robert Werner
•  Kimberly Strader
•  Michael Allen
•  Lucky’s Skill Based Amusement Center, LLC