5 Plead Guilty In Alleged Mon Valley Gambling Ring

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Investigators called it Operation Pork Chop.

On Thursday, five people pleaded guilty for their roles in the alleged Mon Valley gambling ring.

Those in court included a former McKeesport policeman, identified as Ronald Prest, and a Frank Sinatra impersonator, identified as Robert Bogesdorfer.

They were all sentenced to five years of probation.

Police identified the alleged ringleader was Ronald "Porky" Melocchi.

He's accused of running the operation out of this garage in Glassport, allegedly providing gambling machines to restaurants and cafés.

Melocchi is accused of operating the illegal video gambling machines in Allegheny, Fayette, Washington and Westmoreland counties.

He was scheduled to enter a plea today, but received a continuance until June.

McKeesport Councilman Daniel Carr was scheduled to enter a plea as well, but also received a continuance.

Also among the 16 people charged in the case is Forward Township Police Chief Mark Holtzman.

He's accused of running a coffee shop where some of the alleged gambling took place.

The accused were all indicted by a state grand jury back in September.

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