Steven Saris, Illegal Gambling, Ohio 2022

Grimy Times Exclusive: Ohio man pleads guilty to operating illegal gambling businesses and tax evasion, faces up to 10 years in prison and $2.8 million in restitution.

Steven Saris, a 42-year-old Ohio resident, pleaded guilty to operating an illegal gambling business and tax evasion in federal court. According to court documents, Saris owned and operated multiple illegal gambling businesses in Northeast Ohio, including Café 62, Lucky’s, Winner’s World, and Spin City, from 2009 to 2022.

Saris concealed his involvement in these businesses by arranging for others to serve as nominee owners. For tax year 2015, Saris filed a false tax return that did not report more than $1.4 million in income he received from his gambling businesses. For tax years 2016 through 2021, Saris did not file tax returns or pay all the tax that he owed despite earning more than $8.5 million in income from his gambling businesses.

The tax loss to the IRS caused by Saris’ conduct is estimated to be $2,823,391. Saris used his proceeds from the illegal gambling businesses to gamble millions at legal casinos and to acquire and renovate at least two residential properties located in Canton, Ohio.

The investigation into Saris’ activities was led by the IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Inspector General, Stark County Prosecutor’s Office, Ohio Casino Control Commission, and Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission-Major Crimes Task Force. Trial Attorneys Sam Bean and Hayter Whitman of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio prosecuted the case.

Sentencing for Saris is scheduled for August 8th. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for the counts of money laundering and five years in prison for both tax evasion and operating an illegal gambling business. Saris also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

In a bizarre twist, law enforcement recovered Saris’ cell phone from the water tank of a bathroom toilet in his residence after he claimed he did not know its location.

The exact details of Saris’ crimes and the extent of his involvement in the illegal gambling industry are still emerging. As Grimy Times continues to investigate, we will provide updates on this developing story.

Mandatory Facts:

- Defendant: Steven Saris

- Crime: Operating an illegal gambling business and tax evasion

- City and State: Canton, Ohio

- Date: July 2018 (search warrants executed), August 8, 2023 (sentencing)

- Sentence: Up to 10 years in prison, $2.8 million in restitution

- Dollar Amounts: $1.4 million (unreported income for tax year 2015), $8.5 million (income from 2016-2021), $2,823,391 (tax loss to the IRS)

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/ohio-man-pleads-guilty-operating-illegal-gambling-business-and-tax-fraud