10 are linked to bingo scheme bilking nonprofits of millions
One man has been arrested, five people plan to surrender to police, and four others are being sought in an investigation in which bingo-game operators bilked nonprofit organizations of millions of dollars over nearly 10 years, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said Thursday.
A statewide grand jury issued a 30-count indictment June 2 accusing the 10 people of skimming proceeds from charitable bingo and pull-tab games for nearly a decade, Suthers said.
According to the indictment, the defendants operated Winners Bingo in Aurora, where they would recruit or form nonprofits to run bingo games. Profits of the games were distributed among themselves for personal use rather than to the nonprofits, Suthers said.
The indictment also accused them of forging and altering forms filed with the secretary of state.
Former Secretary of State Donetta Davidson said her office became suspicious of information filed by Winners Bingo and brought information to the attorney general’s office, which opened a grand-jury investigation.
“Millions in bingo proceeds went into the pockets of these defendants when they should have gone to legitimate nonprofits,” Suthers said.
Curtis Liggett, 45, was arrested, while Max Brooks, 69; Mary Ann Brooks, 65; James Ryan, 75; and Angie Wood, 46, have set court dates to turn themselves in, said Suthers’ spokeswoman, Kristen Hubbell.
Homer Page, a 64-year-old former Boulder councilman, has contacted a lawyer in advance of turning himself in, Hubbell said.
Still being sought for arrest were Maria Lloyd, 52; Chris Rink, 36; Sean McGrath, 35; and Andrea McGrath, 32, Hubbell said.
None of the defendants’ hometowns was immediately available.
