The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board has rejected a request by Louis DeNaples, founder of the Mount Airy Casino Resort, to do business with his former casino. The board voted unanimously to maintain a ban on DeNaples doing business with the casino, ownership of which he was forced to surrender in light of perjury charges.
DeNaples agreed to the ban, and handing over control of the casino to his family trust, in consideration of the state dropping perjury charges against him. Those charges, brought by a Dauphin County grand jury in 2008, stemmed from DeNaples’ sworn statement that he never had any ties with organized crime, an assertion he has never recanted.
DeNaples was alleged to have had past business dealings with reputed Scranton mobster William D’Elia, head of the Bufalino crime family. He has consistently denied the allegation.
Mount Airy had submitted a petition to the gaming board to lift the ban, which bars DeNaples from receiving any remuneration, cash or property distributions from the family trust headed by his daughter Lisa that now runs the Pocono Mountains resort.
The property wants the ban lifted so it can contract for trash hauling, vehicle repair and other services with companies in which DeNaples has an interest. DeNaples reportedly had planned to provide the services to the casino at cost.
