Crime & Safety

ICYMI: Lynnfield Man Charged in Illegal Gambling Ring

Robert Conway is one of five Boston-area men accused in the gambling and extortion plot.

ICYMI: This post was published earlier this week, but here it is again in case you missed it.

LYNNFIELD, MA - A Lynnfield man faces federal criminal charges for his alleged role in an illegal gambling operation.

Investigators say Robert Conway, 27, of Lynnfield and four other men conducted the business from March 2015 through April of this year. The five men are also accused of extending lines of credit to and collecting from debtors through extortionate means.

Find out what's happening in Lynnfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Joseph Yerardi, 62, of Newton and Anthony Corso, 51, of Cambridge were charged with three counts of conspiracy to make and making extortionate extensions of credit. The two were also charged, along with Winthrop resident Michael Burke, 45, and Conway with various counts of conspiring to collect and collecting extensions of credit by extortionate means from six individuals.

The four men were each brought up on one count of operating an illegal gambling business; Boston resident Michael Habicht, 59, was also charged in running the operation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Find out what's happening in Lynnfieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

The five men are scheduled to be arraigned at 11:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

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