Two Lorain men were indicted by a Lorain County grand jury in connection with the recent raid of Steele City Cafe in Sheffield Township.
Delmont Massey, 60, and Joseph Rowser, 55, are facing 21 felony offenses, including: 12 counts of money laundering, third-degree felonies; five counts of violation of casino gaming, fifth-degree felonies; three counts engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, first-degree felonies; and possessing criminal tools, a fifth-degree felony, according to the indictments.
The Lorain County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force raided Steel City Café on Oct. 17 where investigators collected evidence of illegal gambling.
The Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the cafe, located at 118 Sheffield Center in Sheffield Township, around 10 a.m., according to a news release from Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force Commander Richard Bosley
The search warrant was a result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Task Force into alleged illegal gambling offenses, the release stated.
“During the search warrant, members of the Drug Task Force removed motherboards from over 60 gaming devices, receipts, gift cards and approximately $33,000,” the release stated.
The investigation resulted in the indictment of Massey and Rowser, according to court records.
“The pattern and incidents of corrupt activity include but are not limited to the following conduct: Delmont Massey and Joseph Rowser along with others, created a business entity, Steel City Cafe, LLC, to operate illegal slot machines in violation of Ohio law for profit, means of which involved the use of gift cards used in lieu of cash payments in an attempt to disguise or conceal the course of the financial transaction when making payouts of winnings to customers,” the indictments stated.
The indictment also includes a specification for forfeiture of property which was seized in the raid, such as $32,864 in U.S. currency, the indictments note.
Massey was arrested and released Dec. 1 from the Lorain County Jail on a $10,000 bond.
Rowser was arrested and released from jail Dec. 15 on a $25,000 bond, the jail records show.
Court dates have not been scheduled for the men.
