MAYFIELD, Pa. — A state trooper in Lackawanna County is one of four people charged with illegal gambling and prostitution.
Investigators say Trooper Robert Covington, 45, of Olyphant, is a co-owner of Sinners Swing Gentleman's Club in Mayfield.
State police say an investigation revealed the club was being used for illegal gambling, prostitution, and money laundering.
Co-owner David Klem, 38; club manager Michael Ball, 48; and club employee Deanna Tallo, 31, were also charged.
Of the four people arrested on Thursday, one is a Pennsylvania State Trooper, one is a convicted drug dealer, and another pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into the Lackawanna County Prison.
They're all accused of running an illegal operation out of a gentlemen's club in Mayfield since 2018.
Sinners Swing Gentlemen's Club co-owner David Klem flashed a smile at our cameras as he left the Lackawanna County Criminal Justice Center, followed by the three others who were charged with running an illegal gambling and prostitution ring out of the club in Mayfield.
One of the four arrested is Trooper Robert Covington, a 13-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police, who's assigned to enforce gambling regulations at Mohegan Sun Casino in Wilkes-Barre.
Investigators say Trooper Covington and David Klem own the club together.
Michael Ball is the club's manager, and Deanna Tallo is an employee.
After a year and a half long investigation, state police convinced a grand jury that these four people were running a corrupt organization and laundering money to cover it up.
Sharon Earyes works at an auto repair shop across the street from the club. She was surprised to learn of the illegal activities that were allegedly taking place there.
"If they were doing something bad, they did a very good job of keeping it secret because we didn't know anything," Earyes said. "I really didn't see much action over there. At night, we'd come by after dinner, and there'd be no cars in the lot, maybe one or two in the back you figure are employees. But in all honesty, I thought the place was closed."
Two of the four people arrested have a criminal history.
David Klem did time for using his pizza shop in Olyphant as a front for a drug trafficking operation. He was released on parole in 2015.
Deanna Tallo pleaded guilty in 2019 to smuggling drugs to inmates in the Lackawanna County Prison. Her sentencing in that federal case is scheduled for April.
According to court paperwork, Trooper Covington sent a text to another state trooper in February of last year, saying, "did I tell you I'm a silent partner in a strip club? I went halves with my friend in 2018. I told him I can't have any hand in daily operations till I hit my 20 yr mark lol. I'm almost making my PSP salary there."
Covington is currently suspended without pay from the Pennsylvania State Police.