For over three decades, the Biros family ran a sprawling illegal video poker empire across bars and clubs in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties, raking in millions while dodging law enforcement — until now. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced charges this week against Robert Biros, 83; John Biros, 56; Andrew Biros, 52; Christine Biros, 55; and Alfred McCauley, Jr., 63, in a criminal enterprise that investigators say began as early as the 1980s.
The defendants face charges including corrupt organizations, dealing in criminal proceeds, conspiracy, and illegal use of gambling devices. The operation relied on video poker machines programmed for games of chance, with cash payouts — a direct violation of Pennsylvania law. Authorities seized more than 100 machines from 18 establishments and found over $140,000 in cash during a May 2015 raid on the Biros family home in White Oak.
The investigation kicked off in 2011 when state police and Liquor Control Enforcement officers seized eight illegal machines from an Allegheny County bar tied to the Biros family. Years of surveillance, financial tracking, and coordination with the Pennsylvania State Police and Gaming Control Board followed. The Statewide Investigating Grand Jury played a pivotal role in uncovering the depth of the network.
When search warrants were executed, John Biros raced to unsealed locations to remove internal circuit boards from machines, attempting to destroy evidence. McCauley tipped off other bar owners, instructing them to hide machines or shut down for the day. Investigators say the effort was a coordinated push to obstruct justice and conceal the operation’s true reach.
The family went further, coaching bar owners to lie to investigators and the Grand Jury about Christine Biros’ role. She was being shielded to serve as the public face of a proposed racetrack and casino project in Lawrence County — a bid later rejected by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. That attempt to launder their image adds a layer of calculated deception to the charges.
The Biros family was taken into custody and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Wayne Gongaware, released on their own recognizance pending a preliminary hearing. Attorney General Shapiro vowed accountability: “We’ve shut it down,” he said. “We’ll hold these defendants accountable — and seek restitution as well.”
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Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: Pennsylvania AG
- Category: Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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