Bingo is supposed to be an exciting and fun game that you can enjoy and share with friends. One Pennsylvania man decided he really wanted to share with his friend so they decided to rig a local bingo game and take the jackpot for themselves.

The president of the local fire department in North Belle Vernon has been accused of rigging the bingo game so he and a friend could take home the $1,500 jackpot. Roger Nogy, age 53, works for the North Belle Vernon Volunteer Fire Department. Nogy was calling the local bingo game and decided to call out false numbers.

Sisters Desiree Watson and Dennen Christner told detectives that they saw Nogy draw a number for the jackpot and then announced a completely different number. The winner of the jackpot was Mary Gene Bride, a friend of Nogy’s. She first denied any wrong doing, saying she did not give Nogy any money or was a part of any conspiracy.

Later on, under further questioning, Bridge confessed that she gave Nogy $750 and she kept $750. She stated that they had an agreement to split the winnings. Bridge also admitted that she had split winnings with Nogy on ten other occasions.

Dennis Simboli, a volunteer firefighter and also borough council, had worked closely with Nogy and could not believe what had happened. "I just find it hard to believe that Mr. Nogy would do something like that for such a small amount of money being involved. From what I've been hearing there may be some personal grudges that led to this -- some people may not like Nogy up there."

Nogy is being charged with three misdemeanor counts including theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking and violating the small games of chance act in connection with the alleged incident.


- 2008-10-21