QUEENS — Police recovered a cache of guns and drugs after busting a family-run gambling ring that was taking in about $1 million in bets annually, according to the Queens District Attorney's office.
Authorities found six guns, including two MP-15 assault rifles, 200-plus pain pills and more than $120,000 in cash after raiding the homes of the six people accused of running the gambling ring and betting parlors in the city and Long Island, the DA's office added.
“With the execution of these search warrants we have taken six more deadly weapons off the streets of Queens County," Queen's District Attorney Richard Brown said in a statement. "An investigation that started with illegal gambling has now led to the recovery of a deadly and dangerous combination of guns and drugs.”
The people arrested for allegedly running the ring were Saul Montalvo, 44, and his sister Veronica Montalvo, both of Ozone Park; his son, Daniel Montalvo, 26, of Corona; Juan Arias, 41, from The Bronx; Benny Maldonado, 60, of Ridgewood; and Rosa Rincon, 56, of Woodhaven.
After raiding Saul Montalvo's home on Lafayette Street police found 120 Percocet pills, 75 Oxycontin pills, 35 Hydrocodone pills, a 9 mm pistol, loaded 12-gauge shotgun and an assault rifle, according to the DA's office.
Authorities also raided more than 30 betting parlors in Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island, where cash, gambling records, drugs and weapons were allegedly found.
Saul and Veronica Montalvo and partner Juan Arias ran the ring out of a central wire room in Brooklyn, prosecutors claim.
A second wire room was run by Rosa Rincon out of her Woodhaven home, according to the DA.
Daniel Montalvo and Benny Maldonando allegedly collected and distributed money to the betting parlors.
The NYPD' Queens Narcotics Division and the DA's Narcotics Investigation Bureau started the probe in February after discovering the Brooklyn wire room, prosecutors said.
The six people accused of taking part in the operation were arraigned in Queens Supreme Court and faced charges including enterprise corruption and promoting gambling.
Veronica Montalvo, Daniel Montalvo, Benny Maldonado and Rosa Rincon were held on bail ranging from $5,000 to $50,000.
Saul Montalvo and Juan Arias reserved their bail applications for a later time and were remanded until then.
Lawyers for the defendants did not immediately respond for comment.
All six people face up to 25 years in jail.
