COHOES - State and local agents raided city Councilman Terrence "Marty" Riberdy's Division Street bar Wednesday and arrested the 5th Ward representative, along with a state Department of Transportation worker, on gambling charges.
The 41-year-old, Rose Court resident and owner of Joe's Tavern was busted along with John G. Carroll, of Roosevelt Boulevard on misdemeanor charges of possession of gambling records.
With the assistance of Albany Sheriff's Department investigators and the Cohoes Police Department, the State Liquor Authority entered both Joe's Tavern and the Knights of Columbus, 225 Remsen St., for an inspection of the premises.
While inside both establishments, investigators allegedly discovered sports-related gambling records, approximately $12,000 in cash and an illegal video poker machine at the K of C, of which Carroll is a member.
"We had complaints that there was gambling going on there, and when they walked in (to the bar) there were about 40 people betting for the weekend or for the Super Bowl," said Sheriff's Department Drug Interdiction Unit Inspector John Burke.
"They weren't taking bets over the phone or anything , but there were sport football sheets and a sports board up that pays as much as you bet. ... Basically smalltime stuff, but it's still illegal," Burke added.
Riberdy admitted he was embarrassed by the whole thing and is willing to take his lumps for it, but he also wanted to point out that he had nothing to do with the poker machine that was found at the K of C.
"They got me for having a local $50 pool that so many other bars have, but obviously somebody has it out for me," said Riberdy, alluding to other local leaders he feels are looking to diminish his standing on the council by alerting authorities of the betting. "But I accept the situation, and I've learned my lesson."
"From now on, I'm sticking to making pizzas. ... No more football pools," added the council member, who stunned many residents in last year's election when he beat former Council President Joseph Koval for the 5th Ward seat.
Riberdy claims that at no time did he ever take a cut of the football pools he's been holding at the bar for several years.
"It was just a little football fun for local customers, and I wasn't making money off it," said Riberdy. "They (authorities) told me that even if all the money was going back out, it's still illegal, so that's the end of that."
Burke countered those claims by charging that Riberdy was allegedly shaving off $2,000 of a $10,000 sports gambling board.
"What's he going to say, he took the cut for food? ... He was making money off the board," said Burke. "The board itself is illegal, plus he was taking a cut, and we have gambling records for the (upcoming NFL) Conference Championship."
Cohoes Mayor John McDonald called the incident "embarrassing" and wasn't sure if it would affect Riberdy's term on the council.
"I don't feel it's indicative of our community or reflects on the rest of the council," said McDonald, who banged heads with Riberdy over passage of the 2005 budget that included a 2.3 percent tax increase. "It's not proper behavior for an elected official."
As a member of the K of C himself, McDonald said it was a shame to find out about the poker machine that was seized by authorities.
"Whether it's an elected official or a local organization, these kinds of illegal activities make for a sad day in our community," said McDonald.
According to state Liquor Authority spokesperson Bryan Lee, Riberdy faces license penalties ranging from a two-year revocation, cancellation of his current license, a temporary suspension or fines of up to $10,000, depending on the gravity of the charges, any past infractions and the SLA's final decision.
Both men were also issued appearance tickets and are to appear in Cohoes City Court at a later date.
Carroll, a state DOT engineer, could not be reached for comment.
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