A tipster in a separate investigation by Aurora police led authorities to an alleged bingo scam that’s netted ten defendants millions of dollars over several years, according to the Colorado attorney general’s office.
The defendants, who were indicted by a state grand jury, ran some games off the books and kept profits for the house, according to prosecutors. They also are accused of setting up bogus nonprofits as a way to skim money for themselves.
Investigators are still trying to track how much money was made and where it all went, said Brian Whitney, a state special prosecutor.
“It’s going to keep us busy for a long time,” he said.
Aurora police declined to comment on the case and referred questions to the attorney general’s office.
Charged in the widespread bingo scam are Max Brooks, 69; Mary Ann Brooks, 66; Angie Wood, 46; Maria Lloyd, 52; Curtis Liggett, 45; Homer Page, 65; Chris Rink, 36; James Ryan, 75; Sean McGrath, 35; and Andrea McGrath, 32.
Max and Mary Brooks, Angie Wood, Homer Page and others jointly own and operate Winners Bingo in Aurora, according to the indictment.
“They utilized forged, altered, or sham filings with the Colorado secretary of state to legitimize the operation, while profits were diverted to the individual members of the enterprise through a series of sham transactions,” the indictment states.
The secretary of state’s office and the 18th Judicial District attorney’s office also are involved in the investigation. The secretary of state regulates bingo in Colorado.
The defendants are charged with 30 felony counts including forgery, theft, attempting to influence a public official and violation of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act.
The alleged crimes took place between October 2001 and January 2005.
The group set up several nonprofits – including Handicapped Media, Christian for the Performing Arts, Helping Hands for the Homeless, and Challenges Choices and Images – to illegally benefit themselves, according to prosecutors.
Between May 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2004, Project Return to Work failed to receive more than $300,000 in bingo revenue that it should have been given.
The Project, a legitimate nonprofit that offers employment assistance, was duped and defrauded, Whitney said.
Page, a former Boulder city councilman, introduced Project Return to Work to Winners Bingo as a way to raise funds, according to the indictment. Page said the organized crime charge he faces is groundless.
“Those accusations are totally false,” he said. “To in some way indicate that I was conspiring in this is just totally nuts.”
Other defendants could not be reached for comment.
Initially, the group used legitimate documents and filings mixed with illegal materials and shell organizations as a way to keep regulators at bay, Whitney said.
Prosectors are confident that the funds in question total in the millions.
“They don’t appear to be living a lifestyle that is supported by that amount of money,” Whitney said. “But as we get closer to trial we will be able to nail figures down that are more exact.”
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson can be reached at 303-820-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
