PA Trooper Charged in Illegal Gambling, Prostitution Sting

Submitted by Associated Press on

Written by :

Associated Press

Published on :

MAYFIELD, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania state trooper and three other people were charged Thursday with operating a corrupt organization involving prostitution, gambling and money laundering at a strip club the trooper co-owns.

Start Your Own Sportsbook Today

Robert Covington Jr., 48, who has served with the state police for 13 years, surrendered at the state police barracks in Dunmore and was suspended without pay. He was assigned with the Bureau of Gaming Enforcement division and had been on restricted duty while the investigation was ongoing.

State police officials said Covington and David Klem, 39, of Eynon, co-own the Sinners Swing Gentlemen’s Club in Mayfield, near Scranton. In November 2018, the state police’s criminal investigation bureau received information that the club was being used to promote illicit activity.

A probe was launched, and a state grand jury recently recommended that several charges be filed against Covington, Klem and the two other defendants — Michael Ball, 49, of Dalton, a manager at the club, and Deanna Tallo, 32, of Throop, who worked at the business.

It wasn’t known Thursday if any of the defendants have attorneys who could speak for them.

Covington and Klem were each charged with corrupt organization; criminal conspiracy; prostitution and related offenses; gambling; dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities; and criminal use of communication facility. Covington also faces counts of unsworn falsification to authorities and a violation of submitting a financial interest statement.

Ball and Tallo were each charged with corrupt organizations; criminal conspiracy; and prostitution and related offenses. Ball also faces a gambling charge.

The case was investigated by the state police and the state Attorney General’s Office.

Related Content

Prison

Man Sentenced for Robbing Two Men at Reno Casinos as Hunt Continues for Tamarack Casino Bandit

Authorities say one of the victims was led down an alley and abruptly punched and knocked to the ground where he was then robbed of $1,400 in cash.
Ghislaine Maxwell

Top Republican Lawmaker Signals GOP Openness to Pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell ... Prediction Markets Chances Surge

Polymarket traders are giving U.S. President Donald Trump odds of pardoning convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell a price of +426 (implied 19% chance).
Hairdryer Paris Airport

Gambler Allegedly Used Hairdryer to Steal $35K From Online Betting Site

Paris police are investigating a complaint over alleged tampering of a weather sensor at its international airport, which led to an unusual spike in temperature readings, helping an unknown person make strong profits on the online betting platform Polymarket.
Arrests

43 Nabbed in Bust Tied to Mexican Mafia, Orange County Gambling Operation, Killing at Anaheim Hotel

68-count indictment alleges gang with ties to Mexican Mafia collected extortionate taxes and provided security, including the use of violence, to protect the illegal gambling businesses.