Bingo caller at New York synagogue charged with gaming fraud for fixing games

Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; Jeremiah 22:13a

This sort of scandal can be found in any kind of organization that raises money by gambling. As reported by Jordan Fenster of the Rockland/Westchester Journal News, August 10, 2018 (link in original):

Bingo!

A 71-year-old man changed the outcome of multiple bingo games at the Yorktown Jewish Center, according to a police.

The defendant, Neil Simon Gross, was charged with gaming fraud.

Police said Gross was the bingo ball caller, giving him the opportunity to change the games' outcome and violate the "rules of casino gaming."

Lt. Tom Gentner of the Yorktown Police Department said someone made a complaint to the state Gaming Commission.

Gentner said he did not know if any monetary prizes were at stake. "I've never played bingo," he said.

Brad Maione with the New York state Gaming Commission would not get into specifics, citing an ongoing investigation, but said, "The statute for gaming fraud stipulates that the value exceeds $1,000," for it to be considered a felony.

After being tipped off to the alleged fraud, the gaming commission conducted an investigation at the Yorktown Jewish Center "hand-in-hand" with town police, Maione said.

Bingo is apparently a big deal at the Yorktown Jewish Center, with an entire page devoted to the games on the organization's website.

Gross turned himself in to police on Thursday. He was charged with gaming fraud, an E felony, and was released without bail. He is due back in court on Sept. 11.

Several calls to the Yorktown Jewish Center were not immediately returned.