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. Festival carnivals are usually sponsored by charitable service organizations such as Kiwanis, Jaycees, Shriners, or neighborhood churches, which lend legitimacy to the for-profit midway games. Template:Cite web. New York Cemetery Worker Buried Alive After Grave He Was Digging Collapses On Him, The Horrific Story Of William Calley And The My Lai Massacre, What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch. The midsummer small spots were nice because the hours were short, but the end of the season and the state fairs are where the big money's at. Certain totals correspond to successful yardage gains printed on the perplexing conversion chart. Authorities on enforcement of carnival games estimate that 25 percent of all carnival games nationwide are fraudulent. This style eventually migrated into wrestling, hip hop, and other parts of modern culture.[4]. At large expositions, such as a state fair, the money is massive and the split is different. From there, it grew into what it is today. It was a crime spree that spanned four generations and crossed multiple states from Texas to Oregon, beginning in the early 1920s with ancestors who were 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. If you were one of the players lucky enough to have your money on that color at 32-to-1 odds against, you would win a stuffed animal. Starting Jan. 1, 2019, Illinois law will require carnival companies to conduct criminal background checks of all employees. A continuing criminal enterprise is an example of organized crime. Today, carnival-goers lose thousands of dollars in this 100-year-old con game played all over the world. [citation needed] Most carnies no longer use cant, but some owners/operators and "old-timers" ("half yarders") still use some of the classic terms. I quickly learned that the carnival in question donated $1,000 to the police department and some officers didnt want to upset the carnival workers and chance losing that gift. I estimated that the 12 innocent-looking basketball games alone accounted for $25,000 in 2012, based on the numbers of neighborhood kids trying their luck endlessly for four days. With 80 yards and only having to spend $2, the mark, psyched because of such good luck, is eager to buy more spills. 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. 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. Often described as the Cornbread Cosa Nostra, the Dixie Mafia first emerged in the American South in the 1960s. Marcello tolerated the Dixie Mafias presence as long as they played by his rules and paid for his hospitality. I havent thought about that in a long time. I remember he went about two or three years (jobless) chasing down an injury lawsuit when he got hurt on a job. Patrick Jane, the title character of the CBS crime drama The Twenty-four others, mostly women and children, had stayed behind at the campsite. 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? LITTLE ROCK, Ark. The few drifter-lifestyles left are heavily frowned upon. He would come up to my Moms (his sisters) house and stay while he would talk to the lawyers and go to court and stuff. But the carnival I work forhas spent a long time building their image up to try to distance themselves from the stigma. How many kids want to go to a sideshow these days? All states will allow honest games of chance at not-for-profit fundraisers, such as raffles or millionaire parties for charitable organizations and churches. I worked the Minnesota State Fair in St. Paul last year and was averaging over $30 per hour - cash, no taxes - which was phenomenal. Theyre not really shady, theyre just poor and scraping by. In my research spanning the last 17 years, I estimate that about 75 percent of carnival games on todays traveling midways are gambling, frauds, or a combination of both; up from law enforcements earlier estimate of 50 percent. The various suspect games on NAMEs midway, vividly depicted in Biloxi and Indianapolis, are featured in, This game is not only fraudulent, (deception for money), it is much worse when adults steal from young kids. Jeff Blomsness of South Barrington-based All Star Amusements Co. said his company conducts background checks and drug tests on workers. 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.. The bill would increase fines for amusement companies for failing to check the criminal history of new hires. [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. Cops taking the bribes are also in violation of RICO and similar state statutes. Civilized folks are always suspicious of transients, and it goes back a lot further than Gypsies. Most of the employees are actually nice people, but for many of them, it is almost a job of last resort. 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. CBS News exposed a carnival company which was cheating soldiers and their families out of money at the 2011 Fourth of July Freedom Fest at Fort Hood, Texas, the largest military base in the country. In other words, carnies are not any more shady than other types of work crews that perform similar tasks - its just that people are put off by - to paraphrase Philip Marlowe - having to see the works when the lid is lifted off of life. The only games legally authorized on carnival midways in the United States are skill-based (unrigged) games otherwise known as games of skill. If skill is not the dominating element influencing the outcome of a game, that game would be considered chance-based or a game of chance. All chance-based games are considered gambling games and are illegal when operated on privately owned carnival midways; for example, a game which is set up in a way, which only luck can win a prize, is illegal gambling. Seven responded with insights into their job or advice for While we cultivate our childrens childhood memories, our own become entwined with theirs. Ward Hall? And members only had to obey one rule: Thou shall not snitch to the cops.. have largely been replaced by a bunch of rides and cheesy (somewhat rigged) games of skill crammed into a municipal or shopping center parking lot. That occurred even though state police checked carnival workers' backgrounds. The law dictates that police officers are required to take enforcement action when criminal activity is observed or reported. 15.5% of Carnival Workers are Hispanic or Latino, 8.1% of Carnival Workers are Black or African American, 5.4% of Carnival Workers are Asian, 4.5% of Carnival Workers are Unknown, and 0.1% of Carnival Workers are American Indian and Alaska Native. In an attempt to skirt responsibility for the crooks in question, playing their crooked games, Century 21 Shows manager Jeremy Bendsons acted innocent when questioned by the reporter while playing the customary independent contractor card. Marcello, one of the most powerful leaders in organized crime in America, operated in New Orleans around the same time that the Dixie Mafia was coming to power. Convicted of bank loan schemes in 1986 and never spending a day in prison, the Gregorys befriended Tony Rodham, brother of President Bill Clintons wife, and now presidential candidate, Hillary Rodham Clinton, and were awarded the contracts to operate his carnival, In 2008, campaign finance records show that Frank contributed to the following U.S. Congressional candidates: Joe Baca, Brian Bilbray, Gerry Connolly, Jim Costa, Randy Forbes, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Pence, Dennis Rehberg, and, In my early years as a police officer of the Dearborn Police Department and working the information desk, a man named Steve Nowosielski walked in to complain that carnival employees were stealing from the patrons with Razzle at the city carnival only 100 yards from the police station. Get up to work twelve hour days for the next two weeks or so, then work a twelve hour day, take down your ride, show, what have you and drive it to the next spot, without sleep, usually a few hundred miles away. 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. This past year I noticed all the workers at the Fair were hot young European men, clean cut and in uniform polo shirts. Carnival companies, not the state, should absorb the costs of background checks, lawmakers said. Authorities initially speculated that the gang members had killed McDaniel because they were afraid that he was an informant, but others suspected that he was actually taken out by Pusser. As for the coworkers I got along with, I never asked them about their criminal background, so I couldnt tell you. I know that around here, when they need to hire local workers they pick from the pool of people on day parole, so take that as you will. 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. Carnivals have close ties to not only organized crime but to local law enforcement. I informed her that the gaffed carnival basketball rims are not bent by the carnies, but manufactured for the carnies, and for the designed purpose of creating a false impression of size and shape. (Regulation rims are 18 inches in diameter). WebCarny allowed the carnival workers to hide the truth of their activities from the populace. Gregorys little moon-walk act looks good on the six-o-clock news; however, everyone in the industry knows that carnival owners and managers are never in the dark about the corrupt features of every dirty game on their midways. So, they either rent or default on thier sub-prime mortgage. He died broke shortly thereafter. 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. 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.). 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. Very long hours - up to 20 a day for five to sevendays straight. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The life is really like a frat house on wheels:rampant [use of illicit substances]abounds. The old classic carnivals with geeks & shows of dubious morality etc. So, the grifter swiftly adds up the total with sleight of hand (two hands at a time), and announces a false (fairbank) number, 44, which corresponds to 50 yards on the puzzling conversion chart. Furthermore, sponsors have no way of knowing the total game profits. I am well aware of the acceptability of these games by the general public and the misplaced attitude of Whats the big deal? ", In this CBS News Online, July 12, 2011, video. 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 perpetrator. Meanwhile, the Dixie Mafia received hundreds of thousands of dollars during this time. If legislation is passed to require companies to foot the bill for background checks, it might force them to pass costs on to already cash-strapped county fairs, said Tom Ostermeier, president of the Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs. Now, lets go back to the first question: Have you ever played a carnival game and felt cheated? My parents sold the business when I was still young, and I hated them for it because to a young kid, it was so much fun! But by the early 1990s, the syndicate had largely collapsed. Its what linguists call a cant which is their term for a private language. He bought a truck-mounted merry-go-round and charged people 10 cents to ride it. It is an ever-changing form of communication, in large part designed to be impossible to understand by an outsider. 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. Law enforcement must first recognize this systemic national illness and how it capitalizes on unprotected Americans. 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. They even have their own language., At least thats what people think about carnies. Despite the loose structure that made up the Dixie Mafia network, the Southern crime syndicate was implicated in a number of high-profile cases. Not to say that all carnies are no-goodniks, but I think theres enough evidence and history to see where the reputation comes from. The total is then added up. It was adopted after a stabbing by a carnival worker in 2001. Knowing I was on firm ground, and having experienced a pattern of these intimidation tactics, arrest threats, and failed defamation suits on other occasions, I was wondering if these irritated cops wouldnt chance trumping up an arrest with creative writing. 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. At three events checked this summer by the attorney general and sheriff's offices, no background problems were discovered. As reported in the Savannah Morning News, the government contended Lovett and Randall Roach (Magic Midway carnival owner) schemed from 2004 until September 27, 2013, when Lovett retired. 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. Everyone has their small group of people they work with on a ride and become close to. With 80 yards most marks are usually willing to buy more plays; however, the marble total often adds to 29, the dreaded doubling number. Each time 29 is played, the agent doubles the prize and the mark must double his wager. Have you ever played a carnival game and felt cheated? There are no exemptions for carnival zones. It is evident that the police officers oath of office is not upheld and easily forgotten by some. I hope I have answered it for you. They dont! A lot of money came flowing in, said retired FBI Special Agent Keith Bell. Cops are discouraged from arresting the dishonest carny for two obvious reasons: money and politics. About 40 percent of adults with gambling problems started gambling before age 17. I will usually see three to eight tubs on every midway of Wade Shows and North American Midway Entertainment. Carnivals have close ties to not only organized crime but to local law enforcement. One month later, on October 1, 2002, Frank contributed $10,000 to the Republican Party of Florida Federal Campaign Account as Jeb Bush was running for reelection to governor of Florida. We certainly hope this deals them a major blow, said one attorney at the time. With the corrupt fail-safe protection system in place, carny-owners dont have to worry about their lawbreakers ever having to face criminal charges. Youths risk developing a gambling problem at the rate of two to three times that of adult onset. "After it became obvious that we were on the premises, a number of employees suddenly left.". They collected roughly $12,000, although the victims may have underreported the theft to avoid tax troubles. One of the top leaders of the Dixie Mafia, Kirksey McCord Nix Jr., had been caught running a scam from prison and even ordering a mob hit from behind bars. You see these guys when they beak up the show and leave-their trucks are all blowing blue smoke and look like they are ready for the junkyeard. Add to that the fact that their livelihood is specifically and directly derived from extracting money from members of said society, and it shouldnt be surprising that there is some shadiness there. Dang, and I bet the smile you give wouldve made me buy more of whatever you were selling. The party moves from town to town weekly, of course. In 2008, campaign finance records show that Frank contributed to the following U.S. Congressional candidates: Joe Baca, Brian Bilbray, Gerry Connolly, Jim Costa, Randy Forbes, Zoe Lofgren, Mike Pence, Dennis Rehberg, andNydia Velzquez. Cries for a state law started after a convicted sex offender working as a carnival worker raped and drugged a 15-year-old girl at the Illinois State Fair in 2001. So - I dont know how that applies to all carny workers. We take pride in what we do. There was no chance they would win at some of the games, said Keteyian. I did grounds crew and stage setup for county fairs for a summer after high school. At a recent federal corruption trial, federal investigators testified that Lovett took bribes from a carnival owner during a nine-year period of carnival events from 2004 to 2013 to protect illegal carnival games including a classic old carnival game known as Razzle Dazzle. It is estimated that Lovett, while chief, took bribe installments which amounted to $75,000. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled. Nixs former lawyer Pete Halat, who later became mayor of Biloxi, blamed the missing money on his former law firm partner Vincent Sherry, who was then a judge of the Second Mississippi District Circuit Court. These are people that would otherwise be homeless if not for the ability to count to 2 with both hands. Its a mix. It is evident that the police officers oath of office is not upheld and easily forgotten by some. One guy in Kansas mortgaged his house and sent $30,000 to the scammers over a period of months. To make matters worse, some of the prisoners eventually confessed the scheme to victims and threatened to out them if they told anyone. 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). In my early years as a police officer of the Dearborn Police Department and working the information desk, a man named Steve Nowosielski walked in to complain that carnival employees were stealing from the patrons with Razzle at the city carnival only 100 yards from the police station. Bribe installments which amounted to $ 75,000 I bet the smile you give wouldve me... National illness and how it capitalizes on unprotected Americans are people that would otherwise be homeless if not the. 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