confuse the mark, build him up repetitively and let him believe he is close to the big win. The most common degree is a high school diploma degree with an criminal justice major. There was also the infamous Gypsy Camp Murder in Louisiana. Here is the story of Edgar Allen Gregory Jr., who in 1993, was captured on film during a Dateline NBC hidden camera investigation for operating a racket-show while displaying several big-dollar-fraudulent gambling games on his mobile carnival midway at the North Tennessee State Fair. It would be a winning proposition to bet that changes in carnival status wont come overnight. Carnival midways are the only venues in the United States where local police departments allow carnival lots to be free crime zones for illegal gambling, larceny, and fraud. Once this amiable operative talks the mark into using the free pass, it is already the beginning of the end. Do a little googling on carnies and carnival workers and youll find thats a common assessment. Every carnival game designed has the potential to be rigged. I was just a kid, so I dont know what all kinds of things he did, but I do know he had a few brushes with the law. So, I singled out a known scam artist operating one of the basketball games, Kenneth David Argo, a 12-year game agent for Huston. Step right up to the king of all carnival rip-offs, Razzle Dazzle, which searches for and destroys its prey. The Dixie Mafias territory stretched all over the South, from Georgia to Oklahoma. We got a magazine which has since ceased called Amusement Business which had information on that kind of job for my Regular Patrons. He begins to search for a sympathetic police officer for help. We open at around 5 or 6 pm on Saturday, close at 10 or 11pm, tear down rides (about four hours), drive them to the next spot (typically about 45 minutesto an hour and a half), then set them all back up (about sevenhours). As a retired police officer, I continued to expose and help curb what I found to be a free-wheeling crime anomaly, by publishing several investigative accounts, including two books: Carnival Games: It is quite common for illegal carnival operators to pay off police and public officials in order to operate, says Riedthaler in the Corruption of Officials section of his police training seminar called , On February 6, 2015, Willie Lovett was sentenced to 7.5 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to obstruct enforcement of criminal laws and related gambling crimes. Heres my take on it - it isnt that theyre any different than anyone else in a highly-transient, blue collar labor force, its just that theyre the only ones in such a position who come into contact with average families and kids in a situation where theyre ostensibly supposed to be having fun and the environment is supposed to be happy and jolly. There was no chance they would win at some of the games, said Keteyian. In running background checks at five events, the Illinois attorney general's office and Cook County sheriff's department found that among 179 carnival employees, The objective of the Razzle agent is to confuse the mark, build him up repetitively and let him believe he is close to the big win. He has since risen to the pinnacle of the carnival world with his rigged games, his cash, his protectors, and his friends in high places. Carny life is not an easy one. Most of the stereotypes stem form "back in the day" carnivals - whenfugitivesand all-around seedy people could only find work on a carnival. In 2014, a Razzle victim wrote to me about being fleeced for $7,000 at a festival in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Meanwhile, the Dixie Mafia received hundreds of thousands of dollars during this time. (This practice, one would presume, should already be standard police procedure and routine.). Pete Halat, Kirksey McCord Nixs former lawyer who once served as the mayor of Biloxi. Its only nickel and dime! I hope this article will be an epiphany to naysayers, that this blind uninformed acceptability, enabled by politics and the absence of enforcement, will one day be a big deal. Most carnies are just people with nowhere else to go - usually no family to speak of orskills to get them a career. In running background checks at five events, the Illinois attorney general's office and Cook County sheriff's department found that among 179 carnival employees, there had been 556 arrests and 125 convictions, according to a letter sent to law enforcement agencies. Because the job is so transient, some unscrupulous carnival workers have been known to commit minor or even major crimes while working in a town That could be anybody. He agrees with legislators pushing a law requiring background checks but wants to make sure the carnival industry has input, specifically regarding who will pay for the checks. Testimony was that Roach paid Lovett for protection from police while Roach cheated customers through such games as Razzle Dazzle also known as Razzle, which gave players no chance to win. Lovett was also fined $50,000. Some believed the word to be derogatory. WebEmployees felt differently about being labeled a carnie, a name colloquially used to describe carnival workers. The itinerant carnival owner pays the festival sponsor a fee or percentage of the take for the privilege of servicing the towns carnival-goers. On February 6, 2015, Willie Lovett was sentenced to 7.5 years in federal prison for Conspiracy to obstruct enforcement of criminal laws and related gambling crimes. According to information from a Dearborn police officer, in confidence, the police department security hired to patrol Dearborns Arab International Festival is annually awarded a $10,000 contract by festival sponsor, American Arab Chamber of Commerce, to pay overtime for the services of off-duty police officers who patrol the four-day event. The bill would increase fines for amusement companies for failing to check the criminal history of new hires. Ranking police officers and elected politicians have always cooperated with carnival owners, as in a partnership. From his prison cell in the Louisiana State Penitentiary, Nix created a lonely hearts scam that targeted innocent gay men. Tubs of Fun, known as a bucket games, consist of plastic tubs which replace the old bushel baskets, where the agent is able to execute an unnoticeable stealthy trick only when demonstrating how easy it is to win.. Instead, the Dixie Mafia was a rag-tag band of crooks who were willing to do just about any crime if there was money involved. Template:Cite web. This game is not only fraudulent, (deception for money), it is much worse when adults steal from young kids. Pre-teens are allowed to play a classic gambling game called Crazy Ball at most festivals and fairs. A convicted sex offender, thieves and drug dealers were among carnival workers at Illinois community events this summer, according to a state and county investigation. Most carnival game agents, these days, would rather design and display attractive child-luring games that would serve to mark thousands of young teens for their allowance or grass-cutting money. Police officials in Wayne County and the City of Dearborn have been allowing known rigged games at their carnivals for the last decade while patrons were under the impression they were being protected by cops seen patrolling the midway. They dont have ties in the community. Cops who protect illegal games would be in violation (federally) of the anti-corruption legislation under 18 U.S. Code, Part 1, Chapter 73, section 1511 of RICO Act: Obstruction of State and local law enforcement.. Here, lets see if my charm works on you, Back on topic, I never did carnivals, but I have worked a freak show / side show. Richardson was aware that I had been police trained and experienced in enforcement of carnival games. Im a public librarian, and I gotta say I really dont like Larry who drinks in the bathroom checking that safety catch on the Scrambler, ya know? Carnivals/fairs are a lot of hard work. This complaint and the 2011 complaint to Richardson vanished and both verbal and written statements were never filed in police records. The flatty again uses two hands to slyly pick up the marbles and announces another false fairbank number 11, which corresponds to 30 more yards on the chart. Youths risk developing a gambling problem at the rate of two to three times that of adult onset. WebCarny allowed the carnival workers to hide the truth of their activities from the populace. It is evident that the police officers oath of office is not upheld and easily forgotten by some. Any accurate count of the marbles will correspond to no yards on the chart.). At that point, when the agent tossed the demo balls in, the secret deadening ball absorbed the energy of the demo balls. The Outdoor Amusement Business Association advocates for carnival companies to conduct background checks and wants to work with legislators to draft a law that can be fair to companies, Johnson said. It is quite common for illegal carnival operators to pay off police and public officials in order to operate, says Riedthaler in the Corruption of Officials section of his police training seminar called Carnival Games Gambling and Frauds.. From the foul line, the rims appeared to be regulation and served to attract and dupe naive victims out of $2 a shot. The truth is that some of the illegal games are property of the carnival owner, and not some fictitious ace-in-the-hole independent contractor. Most flat-joints are operated by errant freelancers. They dont draw a line, everything is fair game.. I had a black-sheep uncle who did carny work, as well as tons of other transient jobs. Heres my take on it - it isnt that theyre any different than anyone else in a highly-transient, blue collar labor force, its just that theyre the only ones in such a position who come into contact with average families and kids in a situation where theyre ostensibly supposed to be having fun and the environment is supposed to be happy and jolly. Troops Cheated out of Money at Carnival,Armen Keteyian investigated a Texas-based company called Century 21 Shows at Fort Hood for allegedly defrauding its special guests: American soldiers returning from the Mid-east war or deploying to war. He never held a job for long, as far as I know. WebBusiness Insider asked current and former cruise-ship workers what they wish they could tell passengers but can't. Federal indictments involving four members of La Cosa Nostra in the carnival rackets resulted in convictions in 2013. On November 29, 2002, Frank peeled off $5,000 in the same Florida account only days after Jeb Bush was reelected to governor. In addition to carny jargon, some carnival workers used a special infix ("earz" or "eez" or "iz") to render regular language unintelligible to outsiders. advance man - person who takes care of details that need to be handled in advance of a carnival With no interest to investigate the game in question, the four responding officers allowed the swindlers to continue to rip-off children while backing off on their threats against me. East coast or west? A central question was whether Rodham was paid by the Gregorys to gain White House access and help to obtain pardons or whether Rodham was paid for legitimate business services. Carnival life is its own world, detached from mainstream lifestyles. The party moves from town to town weekly, of course. A loud bell should sound when it is known that itinerant serial criminals are targeting members of the U.S. military and children with impunity. It usually takes zero years For 15 years, his city has required carnival companies to submit employees' names--since a 10-year-old boy was sexually molested by a carnival worker who had just been released from prison for a similar offense. He bought a truck-mounted merry-go-round and charged people 10 cents to ride it. All players lay a bet down on a color and only one of the players throws a rubbery ball in a bin of 96 colored holes. Their goal was to cover all aspects of true crime: Read More, Contents Copyright 1998-2020 by Crime Magazine | J. Patrick O'Connor Editor | E-mail CrimeMagazine.com, Designed by Orman. Despite the loose structure that made up the Dixie Mafia network, the Southern crime syndicate was implicated in a number of high-profile cases. Richardson, aware of the so-called games for two years, not only failed to command appropriate investigative action, he also failed to properly document the complaints in the county police files This way, a nosy reporter, going through police files, will not encounter any crime complaints to write about. The sheriffs revenge story was later depicted in the 1973 film Walking Tall. Testimony was that Roach paid Lovett for protection from police while Roach cheated customers through such games as Razzle Dazzle also known as Razzle, which gave players no chance to win. Lovett was also fined $50,000. There were at least two casualties: Margie George, a 44-year-old fortune-teller who was hacked to death for refusing to reveal the location of a supposed safe, and Gary Elbert McDaniel, a known Dixie Mafia associate who turned up dead a month after the murder. Buford Pusser supposedly took out several members of the Dixie Mafia to avenge his wifes death. They were doing anything and everything illegal down here, said retired FBI Special Agent Keith Bell, who grew up on the Gulf Coast and worked on cases linked to the Dixie Mafia. In my view, what Deputy Chief Dennis Richardson did isnt much different from what disgraced former Chief Willie Lovett did for nine years: Conspiracy to obstruct enforcement of criminal laws. (Lovett probably tossed every Razzle and hoop complaint at all his cheating carnivals.). This is lawful gambling provided that the event is licensed and monitored by the state. But the operation unraveled when half a million dollars suddenly went missing. When the victims got in touch, Nix duped them into sending the mob large sums of money to pay for his legal defense. Before long, other Dixie Mafia inmates got involved in the scam, placing more fake photos in gay publications and coming up with tall tales about why they needed more money before they could leave jail (or wherever else they claimed to be). He was an alcoholic. I paid Argo $9 and missed all five shots. As for the OP, I second WhyNot. The two Razzle games, managed by an up and coming Frank Zaitshik, were shut down. There are no exemptions for carnival zones. Sponsors, and especially church festival committees, likely make the mistake of trusting carny-managers under the ill-judged impression that they (sponsors) share game profits. Nix and later Halat were both convicted in the conspiracy that led to the judges death. Along with other costs, in most cases, a contracted carnival owner pays the contract fee, (around $1million), in advance of a long-running state fair. As part of a self-serving marketing ploy, some carnival owners publicize their plans to make donations to local charities, in an attempt to present themselves as compassionate people in order to gain respect and support of citizens they plan to flimflam. The various suspect games on NAMEs midway, vividly depicted in Biloxi and Indianapolis, are featured in Jeff Rossens and Sandra Thomass 2012 expos. [2] The word carnival, originally meaning a "time of merrymaking before Lent" and referring to a time denoted by lawlessness (often ritualised under a lord of misrule figure and intended to show the consequences of social chaos), came into use around 1549. Well I dont think theyre shady as much as they simply look like they have come from extremely impoverished environments, or have led very harsh lives given the state of their average dental health, and their overall haggard look. If you get busted for [illicit substances], youre gone. A report by the U.S. House Committee on Government Reform concluded that United Shows of America, Inc. paid Rodham $240,000 for undocumented consulting services. These are people that would otherwise be homeless if not for the ability to count to 2 with both hands. At that state fair, the contracted carnival, Powers Great American Midways, could gross from $4 to $6 million, as published in Business North Carolina. This add-up-the-score ruse, which comes in many captivating forms, involves a brilliant system of cheating, accompanied by vague, complicated rules. I dont have children, however, I do not plan to bring them [when I do] to the carnies that come through town here. From there, it grew into what it is today. The mark will often return and become heavily invested, as the doubling effect will drain his bank account before reaching the goal line. David Malhalab, also with me at the time, phoned in a request for service to the Dearborn Heights police, asking them to respond to investigate this larceny with the 13-year-old victim waiting and with the perpetrator still operating the game in question. Step right up to the king of all carnival rip-offs, Razzle Dazzle, which searches for and destroys its prey. But even incarceration couldnt stop them from committing crimes. In 2001, the U.S. Justice Department investigated the Gregorys and determined that from 1998-2001, Tony Rodham received a total of $323,769 in salary and loans from the Gregorys. Carnival life in 2023 is mostly different than the old days, but in a few ways its the same. Seven responded with insights into their job or advice for The term "showie" is used synonymously in Australia, while "showman" is used in the United Kingdom.[1]. Theres something inherently interresting in flirting with the danger of putting your entertainment in the hands of a untrustworthy-looking stranger, and I know more than one of our crew made extra money just off of their image / appearance in that way. Slick carnival entrepreneurs are business-savvy. Because of the mixture of carnival-related contract money and politics, the unwritten rule in Dearborn and other towns figures to be: No enforcement of midway games!, NAME also had a contract to pay off-duty Joliet, Illinois, police officers an hourly rate of $49.92 to work security at a weekend shopping mall carnival. These are people that the term transient doesnt even begin to touch. They collected roughly $12,000, although the victims may have underreported the theft to avoid tax troubles. What level of education is required for Carnival Workers? I dont know if it compares, but I do know that some people there worked the shady angle purposefully. Federal law enforcement needs to pay attention to the probability of tax evasion, likely involving many millions of dollars annually, as well as checking for gambling equipment-trailers rolling across state lines in violation of the Johnson Act (Interstate transportation of gambling equipment). As part of my research for the Today feature, each morning before the 2012 Arab Festival carnival opened, I measured the basketball rims and found, pretty much, what I had expected. Burbank's policy--like other municipalities'--has no teeth because it cannot stop someone with a criminal history from working at a carnival, said lawmakers and law enforcement officials advocating stronger legislation. "Some of them, you wonder why they are not in jail," Radowicz said. What sideshows have you worked in? A favorite American mythologyis that of the carnie, someone who works at a carnival. Loved it, although I didnt get along too well with my coworkers - it seems that girl is supposed to equal slut, and I never got the memo. NAME and Co CEO, Danny R. Huston, can gross $200,000 over the weekend and pay the sponsor one-quarter of the gross or about $50,000 for the privilege of servicing unprotected patrons. Party one night. It took the media to address the tubs crimes and not police in the three tub cases cited. Having a secret language is a necessity to avoid discovery. With the recent publicity on the ills of Tubs of Fun, chances are that the carnies will re-package the scam with a different look until the heat dies down; perhaps bring back the old wooden bushel-baskets instead of plastic laundry tubs and eliminate the deadening ball for one year. While the Dixie Mafia had no formal ties to La Cosa Nostra, they did have an understanding with a notorious Italian-American Mafia mob boss named Carlos Marcello. With the astronomical amounts of cash the Razzle sharks are capable of taking, one never should rule out the possibility of protection by dirty cops, often in the vicinity of a Razzle set-up. The total is then added up. It goes back to the Nomads versus the Egypt, Rome versus the Barbarians. With a history of crime older than the United States itself, Biloxi had first gained a reputation as a haven for illicit gambling in the 17th century. Natasha Ishak is a staff writer at All That's Interesting. A major stereotype I hate is that we are all crooks and criminals. So usually, we don't tell townies that we are carnies because they immediately judge us for it. The gang then broke into 10 trailers in search of valuables and cash. Not one ball went through any of the 12 stingy rims. "After it became obvious that we were on the premises, a number of employees suddenly left.". But at the other five carnivals, nine workers had warrants and several other employees gave fake names to authorities or fled the festival grounds. I worked the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul last year and was averaging over $30 per hour - cash, no taxes - which was phenomenal. So while carnival talk did not entice people, it did help the carnies to ensure that the customers never knew about the shady back-end of things, Winter says. Which Animated Disney Movie Should Get A Horror Adaptation Next? Playing ignorant to his many crooked games including Razzle, Gregory, with feigned dismay and with an award-winning performance on camera, stated his intent to fire his swindlers. (No, not that Cecil. Lots of hard work, but I got to meet some great people - especially the bands we set up for. Carnival owners, workers, and agents, known as carnies, who own, manage, or operate these chance-based games and share in the take, are conspiring to promote gambling. Today, carnival-goers lose thousands of dollars in this 100-year-old con game played all over the world. (Regulation rims are 18 inches in diameter). In many ways, Biloxi was an ideal place for the Dixie Mafias stomping grounds. If a person cheats customers, it is likely that same person will cheat the government. Troops Cheated out of Money at Carnival,Armen Keteyian investigated a Texas-based company called Century 21 Shows at Fort Hood for allegedly defrauding its special guests: American soldiers returning from the Mid-east war or deploying to war. Marcello tolerated the Dixie Mafias presence as long as they played by his rules and paid for his hospitality. This seedy history and the ongoing corruption of local officials made the city an attractive place for lawbreakers. In 2004, four off-duty cops in New Orleans were implicated, with one of them federally indicted, for a charge related to conspiracy to protect and profit from a Razzle business during the carnival season. Step right on up! (If it isnt documented, it didnt happen.), A police officer refusing to properly address or document a crime-in-progress complaint is tantamount to constructively playing into the hands of organized crime. For a carnival owner or manager to deny responsibility is like saying I didnt run you over, my car did! When it comes to interviews, carnival owners and managers will act outraged while feigning ignorance about the rigged game and its perpetrat, John Wayne Gacy Confessed to Killing Dozens (December 22, 1978). At three events checked this summer by the attorney general and sheriff's offices, no background problems were discovered. Arrive at location in the afternoon, after working the last spot all night. The FBI and game enforcement experts are available to present seminars to police departments. As such, yeah, they do sometimes attract the less than savory folks. (Source: National Council on Problem Gambling NCPG). Gummo was about white trash in a small dirt-poor town. It does tend to be full of gossip since everyone works and lives with each other in close quartersRide and customer safety is the number-one priority. 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