Published: July 11, 2008 11:39 pm      

Three face bookmaking charges

A state police investigation into illegal gambling in Cambria and Jefferson counties has led to the arrest of three men, including a Johnstown area man and a former Cambria County man.

Robert Boast, 45, of the 100 block of Taft Street in Middle Taylor Township, Robert Juliette, 47, Punxsutawney, and Jeff Papalia, 41, Kernersville, N.C., formerly of Cambria, were charged by state police with bookmaking and other offenses.

Boast and Juliette were arraigned before District Judge Douglas Chambers of Punxsutawney and released on $90,000 unsecured bail each.

Police said arrangements are being made with Papalia to be arraigned in the near future.

The criminal complaint said authorities obtained approval from a state Superior Court judge in late March to place a wiretap on Juliette’s telephone and cell phone.

Through the tap, authorities allegedly learned that Juliette was accepting bets from numerous individuals on professional and college basketball, hockey, baseball and horse racing.

The wiretap revealed that Juliette would forward bets to Papalia and that Boast was sending money to Juliette that was owed him.

Police said more people may be arrested in the near future.