Seventeen people have been arrested on charges relating to illegal gambling in the Philadelphia and Delaware County area. The investigation started in February of 2002 when a man was brought in on bookmaking charges in Montgomery County and cooperated with the state police and FBI. Among the charges for Nicholas “Nicky the Hat” Cimino, his girlfriend, and the other fifteen defendants are participating in a corrupt organization, dealing in proceeds of illegal activities, solicitation to commit aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit perjury, sale of illegal drugs and fencing stolen property. These stem from the fees paid by Cimino for an establishment on McDade Boulevard in Folsom, Delaware County where poker games and illegal betting on racing was going on. At one point they tried to cover the $1 million a month profits with Pennsylvania State lottery tickets.