MARCH 22, 2000

BOOKIES OPERATING OUT OF BAYSIDE APARTMENT CHARGED WITH PROMOTING GAMBLING

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown announced this week the arrest of two men for running an illegal gambling operation out of a Bayside apartment at 213-05 75th Avenue.

District Attorney Brown said that the defendants, Jeffrey Putter, 55, of 27 Circle Drive, Syosset and Lawrence Druker, 61, of 75-24 Bell Boulevard, Bayside are charged with promoting gambling in the first degree and possession of gambling records in the first degree. They face up to 4 years in prison if convicted.

According to the charges, the defendants took bets on sports events in the Bayside apartment, which was leased in the name of a friend, and which was filled with gambling paraphernalia. Seized in a raid were betting slips, tally sheets, telephones, calculators, account books, bank account documents and computer equipment used in the gambling operation. The defendants, both retired for some years from other jobs, were allegedly taking in thousands of dollars a week from the operation.

District Attorney Brown said, "Illegal gambling operations can have a negative impact on the quality of life of citizens who live or work in or near the betting operation. They will not be tolerated."

The investigation was conducted by Detectives Glenn Russo and Brendan Finn of the Organized Crime Investigation Division of the Organized Crime Control Bureau of the New York Police Department.

Assistant District Attorney Gerard A. Brave Deputy Bureau Chief of District Attorney Brown's Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Brian Mich, will prosecute the case.

It is to be noted that a charge is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.