There are five applicants vying for two slots licenses. In the Poconos there are two applicants and the betting is that one of the available licenses will go to the Poconos.
The contenders there include Louis Denaples, an allegedly mob-tied felon from NEPA, who pled "no contest" to fraudulently cashing in on the 1972 flood that hit the Wilkes-Barre area, from which it has not yet recovered. More recently, in 2001, the Internal Revenue Service filed an affidavit in U.S. District Court outlining contacts and payments Denaples allegedly made to William "Big Billy" D'Elia, whom law enforcement identified as the head of the Buffalino crime family in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
His competitor in the region is the Pocono Manor, recently purchased by a group headed by New Jersey real estate developer Greg Mazel. Mazel has spent millions, bringing in some of the most respected consultants in the gaming, resort and convention business, to help his group put together a full-scall resort, convention, and retail plan for developing the Pocono Manor property, which has continued operating as a world-class resort since Mazel purchased it. (Denaples levelled the Mount Airy property when he bought it, and it now sits as a massive eyesore in the Poconos.)
Even a cursory review of the two plans suggests that the Pocono Manor plan is more well thought out, more likely to bring non-gambling business to the Poconos, and more professionally put together. The Pocono Manor plan calls for the operations to be run by experienced resort, retail, and gambling professionals. Denaples will turn over significant responsibility to his 37-year old daughter, who has a dental degree (to be sure, there are gambling pros on the Denaples team -- but this will be a family-run business).
But, the allegedly linked-in Denaples plan has something that the Pocono Manor plan doesn't -- over a million dollars in donations to Rendell and other top state lawmakers and judges over the last five years. That includes nearly $300,000 to Bob Mellow, Democratic State Senate Leader, and committees he controls.
We aren't going to say that that bought Denaples a seat at the table -- but Mellow appointed Denaples friend and former lawyer, William Conaboy (from Scran'en), to the commission that doles out slots licenses. Conaboy is on the Board of directors of the bank that Denaples controls and is chairman of the board. Conaboy is also on the board of directors of Lackawanna Community College in Scran'en.
Also serving on the Board of Directors for the Lackawanna College along with Denaples' lawyer are Albert Magnotta and Dominic Denaples -- Louis' brother. Magnotta is the chief engineer on Denaples' slots project. Dominic Denaples, who is partners with his brother in some ventures, is chairman of the college’s board. All that is significant because, when Conaboy had to resign from the slots board, Mellow appointed the president of Lackawanna College as his replacement. Mellow's press release forgot to mention the Denaples ties.
Oh, yeah, Denaples is telling everyone there's no conflict because his brother has nothing to do with the Mount Airy project. Here's the photo and caption from a local paper on the "ground-breaking":
With "Denaples Family" juice, is there any doubt who is going to get the license -- a professional, full concept plan designed to bring retail, convention, resort, and gambling business to the Poconos, or the empty lot owned by a felon, with reported mob-ties, who was called at the slots hearing "a crook with ties to organized crime"?
One guess.
The contenders there include Louis Denaples, an allegedly mob-tied felon from NEPA, who pled "no contest" to fraudulently cashing in on the 1972 flood that hit the Wilkes-Barre area, from which it has not yet recovered. More recently, in 2001, the Internal Revenue Service filed an affidavit in U.S. District Court outlining contacts and payments Denaples allegedly made to William "Big Billy" D'Elia, whom law enforcement identified as the head of the Buffalino crime family in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
His competitor in the region is the Pocono Manor, recently purchased by a group headed by New Jersey real estate developer Greg Mazel. Mazel has spent millions, bringing in some of the most respected consultants in the gaming, resort and convention business, to help his group put together a full-scall resort, convention, and retail plan for developing the Pocono Manor property, which has continued operating as a world-class resort since Mazel purchased it. (Denaples levelled the Mount Airy property when he bought it, and it now sits as a massive eyesore in the Poconos.)
Even a cursory review of the two plans suggests that the Pocono Manor plan is more well thought out, more likely to bring non-gambling business to the Poconos, and more professionally put together. The Pocono Manor plan calls for the operations to be run by experienced resort, retail, and gambling professionals. Denaples will turn over significant responsibility to his 37-year old daughter, who has a dental degree (to be sure, there are gambling pros on the Denaples team -- but this will be a family-run business).
But, the allegedly linked-in Denaples plan has something that the Pocono Manor plan doesn't -- over a million dollars in donations to Rendell and other top state lawmakers and judges over the last five years. That includes nearly $300,000 to Bob Mellow, Democratic State Senate Leader, and committees he controls.
We aren't going to say that that bought Denaples a seat at the table -- but Mellow appointed Denaples friend and former lawyer, William Conaboy (from Scran'en), to the commission that doles out slots licenses. Conaboy is on the Board of directors of the bank that Denaples controls and is chairman of the board. Conaboy is also on the board of directors of Lackawanna Community College in Scran'en.
Also serving on the Board of Directors for the Lackawanna College along with Denaples' lawyer are Albert Magnotta and Dominic Denaples -- Louis' brother. Magnotta is the chief engineer on Denaples' slots project. Dominic Denaples, who is partners with his brother in some ventures, is chairman of the college’s board. All that is significant because, when Conaboy had to resign from the slots board, Mellow appointed the president of Lackawanna College as his replacement. Mellow's press release forgot to mention the Denaples ties.
Oh, yeah, Denaples is telling everyone there's no conflict because his brother has nothing to do with the Mount Airy project. Here's the photo and caption from a local paper on the "ground-breaking":
"Former Mount Airy Lodge owner Frank Martens, left, is joined Monday by Louis, Dominick and Lisa DeNaples for a ground breaking ceremony for the proposed Mount Airy Resort and Casino."Yeah, well.
With "Denaples Family" juice, is there any doubt who is going to get the license -- a professional, full concept plan designed to bring retail, convention, resort, and gambling business to the Poconos, or the empty lot owned by a felon, with reported mob-ties, who was called at the slots hearing "a crook with ties to organized crime"?
One guess.
4 comments:
very interesting! the same bank that PRESIDENT JUDGE CONAHAN from luzerne county is a member of the board!the same person that has been seen going in and out of his chambers!!
Dude, you really need to get your facts straight, Dominic DeNaples resigned from the Board of Directors of Lackawanna College earlier this year, probably before Angeli even became a member of the Gaming Commission.
And if you have paid even cursory attention to the Mount Airy Project, you would know its going to be run by Paul Henderosn, the former head of Caesars in Atlantic City I believe
Nice try at a hatchet job though. I guess Matzel and his buddies have promised you a job as a security guard at their new resort? You could have all the donuts you can eat then!
Well, Anonymous Dude, the facts are straight.
Denaples' brother did resign -- not before Angeli was named to the board by Mellow, but BECAUSE of it. As reported in the Pocono Record.
As far as who is going to run the joint, what I said is that he is turning over significant responsibility to his dentist daughter, which he is. She has been all over the business community over there representing her "family" business.
Funny, but you know that you are on to something when the target starts referring to a simple recitation of the facts as a "hatchet job".
Heyy listen here i telling u i know these people personally i am 13 years old and these people did alot for me and there is nothing wrong with them. Maybe your jus jelous because there more sucessful then u
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