New York.– US authorities continued to investigate an estimated $10 million to $12 million yearly lottery gambling ring as they revised the amount of cash seized during a series of raids.
According to Rockland Executive Assistant District Attorney Gary Lee Heavner, along with arresting nine people, police seized $370,302 on Thursday at homes and businesses in Rockland and New Jersey,
They also seized eights cars, including several high-end vehicles from the reputed ringleaders living in Stony Point. Heavner said they counted about two-thirds of the cash for a news conference on Thursday and incorrectly estimated the remainder. The original report was $450,000.
The cash taken from safes was in about 50 stacks of rubber-banded $100, $50 and $20 bills. The raids and arrests culminated an investigation by the Rockland Intelligence Center started in October based on information about lottery rooms from a Spring Valley police officer.
Referred to as the "Dominican lottery," the game is similar to the New York Lottery's Pick 3 game. If the player hit the three numbers picked in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, the player won up to $600 on a $1 investment, said sheriff's Lt. John Schnitker, director of the Rockland Intelligence Center.
