Jul. 20, 2023 By Anthony Medina
Police from the 104th Precinct arrested two men who were allegedly operating an illegal gambling site in Maspeth.
According to police, an unidentified 34-year-old man reported leaving $7,400 on the table inside Pieklo Bakery, located on 60-41 Fresh Pond Road, at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 19, when 69-year-old Victor Tomescu allegedly took the man’s money and refused to give it back.
When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Tomescu was allegedly running the illegal gambling site and selling alcohol without a license. Additionally, officers found that Tomescu was in possession of card tables and six illegal gambling machines inside the former bakery. He was subsequently arrested and charged with grand larceny, illegal gambling, unlicensed sale and storage of alcohol, promoting gambling and criminal nuisance, according to authorities.
Ion Ghereben, 59, a store employee and alleged co-conspirator, was also arrested on July 19 on related charges. Ghereben, a Ridgewood resident, was charged with six counts of possession of a gambling device, police said.
Pieklo Bakery has been closed since 2022, according to its Facebook page.