$50K in cash, 2 guns seized in illegal gaming bust; Mississauga resident among 18 charged

A Mississauga resident is among 18 people facing charges after police busted an illegal gaming house in Richmond Hill and recovered more than $50,000 in cash, two guns and a luxury convertible.

Of those arrested, two Toronto men are charged with keeping a common gaming house while the other 16 people face charges of being found in a common gaming house, York Regional Police said. The group faces a total of 22 charges.

Officers with the York police Special Enforcement Team made the arrests during a Sept. 19 raid at a West Beaver Creek Drive address, described by police as a business location.

During the execution of a search warrant, officers also seized two 9mm handguns, $53,000 in cash, a $50,000 2018 Mercedes convertible and four poker tables, police said in a news release on Tuesday.

One of the guns was found inside the business while the other was recovered during a search of a suspect’s vehicle, police said.

John Margaronis, 43, of Toronto, is charged with keep a common gaming house, unauthorized possession of a firearm knowing it is unauthorized and loaded prohibited or restricted firearm or with readily accessible ammunition.

Damien Campbell, 46, also of Toronto, is charged with keep a common gaming house.

The news release didn’t include names or other information related to the 16 others charged, but a police spokesperson told Insauga.com one of them is from Mississauga.

The Special Enforcement Team has conducted 14 investigations into illegal gaming houses since June 2023, police said, adding 163 people have been charged (210 total offences) in that time.

Additionally, officers with the specialized unit have seized $14 million in drugs, $250,000 worth of gaming equipment and vehicles, $431,000 in cash and seven illegal firearms.

“Illegal gaming houses operate in residential and commercial neighbourhoods and bring an unwanted criminal element to our community,” police said. “Illegal gaming fuels organized crime and can lead to other ancillary crimes such as arsons, extortions, loan sharking, shootings and robberies.”

Anyone with information on such illegal activity is asked to call police at 1-866-876-5423, ext.7817, or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.