2 plead guilty after Ohio Internet cafe raids

5/2/2013
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND — Two weeks after a raid on Cleveland-area Internet cafes, two cafe owners have taken plea agreements that include testifying against others accused of being part of an illegal gambling syndicate.

The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reports that the cafe owners pleaded guilty to misdemeanor gambling charges Wednesday. Felony charges, including racketeering, were dropped.

The men — Robert Rogers and Terry Fiala — were ordered to pay $1,000 fines. Rogers told the judge that he didn’t intend to break the law.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine contends the cafes — which offer slots-like computer games — are illegal gambling parlors.

A bill to immediately halt the expansion of Internet cafes statewide cleared the Ohio Senate Wednesday and heads to the House for the vote.