By: Stephanie Prokop
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIPFive men from Kentucky and Ohio were charged with promoting gambling at truck stops in Bordentown Township on June 28 in what police say was a con game that netted money and jewelry from unsuspecting truckers.
Police said the five men three from Kentucky and two from Ohio had been using CB radios to invite truckers to participate in three-card monte card games in the rear truck lots of the Petro Truck Stop on Rising Sun Road, and the Pilot Truck Stop on Route 206.
Police said truck stop security reported that when drivers would ante up money, or were seen with expensive jewelry, the suspects would quickly grab the money or forcibly remove the jewelry and flee.
Police had increased patrols at the truck stops after learning of four such incidents. At 2:30 p.m. on June 28, Petro Truck Stop security contacted the Bordentown Township Police to report that a group of men had been in the rear lot playing three-card monte and had allegedly stolen a ring from a truck driver. Security told police that the suspects had been followed to the front parking lot, where they were seen entering two vehicles and heading toward Route 206. Bordentown Township police stopped two cars a 2000 red Chevy Cavalier and a 1997 red Buick LeSabre, as they entered the NJ Turnpike.
The five men charged with promoting gambling were Michael Roseberry, 32, of Cincinnati, Ohio; Randall Holt, 44, of Florence, Ky.; David Roseberry, 18, of Villa Hills, Ky.; Tony Baker, 34, of Ludlow, Ky.; and Brian Lunsford, 37, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
All five were lodged at the Burlington County Jail in default of $5,000 bail.
Police said the suspects’ vehicles were equipped with CB radios so they could communicate with truck drivers. A deck of cards, a cardboard box used as a stand for playing the game, and a small quantity of marijuana also were recovered from the vehicles, police said. No additional charges had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.
Police said interviews with witnesses led police to believe that the men had told truck drivers that one of them had recently won the lottery and had a large amount of money to gamble. When drivers came over to observe the game, members of the group allegedly would pose as fellow truck drivers and flash large amounts of cash they had won playing the game to encourage others to ante up.
A total $4,656 was seized by police from the group.
Police said when Petro security interrupted a game, one of the men reportedly removed a ring from a truck driver’s hand, but returned it after the driver followed him. The driver could not recognize the person who had taken his ring and robbery charges had not been filed against any of the members as of Tuesday.
Police said they are investigating whether the group has been traveling from state to state performing the con at truck stops.

