All bets are hopefully off at American Legion Post 568 in the Minooka section of Scranton.
But getting Democratic Pennsylvania House of Representatives lawmaker Kyle Donahue, who represents Minooka and serves as a majority member of the House of Representatives Gaming Oversight Committee, to take illegal gambling in his own backyard seriously is nothing but a crapshoot.
The same goes for Donahue’s “constituent services advisor” and childhood best friend Sean O’Shea who serves as Post 568 president. O’Shea made national news back in 2005 when then U.S. Army soldier O’Shea spoke with and shared his diary entries with a writer from GQ Magazine. O’Shea told his story about guarding Saddam Hussein in an American military prison for almost ten months before the Iraqi dictator’s December 30, 2006, execution by hanging.
In a 8/20/25 letter to American Legion Post 568, Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher ordered members to “cease and desist illegal gambling and illegal liquor raffles.” Do it again and Gallagher promised to file criminal charges against those who organize and conduct illegal gambling which includes the popular Post 568 Yeti cooler-loaded-with-liquor raffle.
In a June Facebook post O’Shea sold raffle tickets on his personal public Facebook page for the American Legion Post 568 Yeti cooler-loaded-with-liquor raffle. State Liquor Control Board records call O’Shea the post president. Various local news reports also call him the post commander.
“These crimes jeopardize the post liquor license and could permanently close the post bar,” Gallagher wrote.
Minooka bars have served as illegal gambling dens for about 100 years. But the clannish Minooka Irish neighborhood never before showcased a state legislator who hired a “constituent services advisor” who oversaw what Gallagher calls illegal gambling and Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Enforcement agents call shoddy record keeping and state liquor law violations at Minooka American Legion Post 568.
State lawmaker Donahue refused twice to answer my written question as to whether he bought any tickets for the illegal raffle from O’Shea or anybody else at the Minooka American Legion. O’Shea failed to respond to emails and asked me not to contact him on his personal Facebook page before unfriending and blocking me after I asked him questions about the raffle. O’Shea was far more congenial several years ago when he visited my office at WILK News Radio to talk about local politics and the images and reflections he has of Saddam Hussein.
Despite Gallagher’s warning, Rep. Donahue doubled down defending the Post 568 “misunderstanding” despite sitting as a majority member on the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Gaming Oversight Committee. State taxpayers pay the undistinguished state legislator $106,422.33-per-year plus $185/day per diem to uphold the public trust and police legal gambling in the Commonwealth among other legislative duties. State lawmaker Donahue seemed oblivious to Gallagher’s promise to enforce gambling laws state taxpayers expect state lawmaker Donahue to advocate.
In a 9/4/25 email I asked Rep, Donahue, “Are you aware of the warning letter Lackawanna County District Attorney Brian Gallagher sent to American Legion Post 568 with regard to this crime? Are you aware of the related liquor law violations Pennsylvania State Police filed against American Legion Post 568?”
Rep. Donahue responded:
“First off, to classify this as “illegal” or a “crime” is disingenuous at best. It is a Liquor Control Board (LCB) administrative violation that works its way through an administrative law process within the LCB. It is also my understanding that this specific case was a misunderstanding of the small game of chance license that American Legion Post 568 currently holds. But ignorance is not an excuse for violating the regulations that are in place and the LCB did in fact issue an administrative citation to Post 568 which will now work its way through that process.”
In Gallagher’s August 20 letter addressed to “Members of American Legion Connolly Post 568” and titled “Re: Official Warning Regarding Liquor Raffles” the district attorney wrote:
“It has been reported to my office that your legion is engaging in liquor raffles in violation of Pennsylvania law. This correspondence serves as a formal warning regarding the unlawful conduct of liquor raffles and “basket of cheer” raffles at your organization without the required licenses and authorizations under Pennsylvania law.
Be advised: this activity is illegal.”
DA Gallagher further wrote, “This notice shall serve as your only opportunity for warning. Any future instance of unlicensed liquor raffles, baskets of cheer, or similar illegal fundraising activity will result in the immediate filing of criminal charges against the responsible individuals and the organization.
You are hereby directed to cease and desist immediately from all unlawful liquor raffles and to ensure that all future fundraising activities are conducted in strict compliance with Pennsylvania law.”
Gallagher continued, “I understand and am sympathetic to the fact that many legions, VFWs, and private clubs conduct these raffles without having the proper license not for any underlying criminal purpose but rather to maintain the property, pay the bills, and ensure that the post remains a welcoming place for veterans, families, and neighbors.”
“However, as District Attorney, I am required to enforce the law. Conducting unlicensed liquor raffles or “baskets of cheer” constitutes a criminal violation under the above Pennsylvania statutes,” Gallagher wrote.
“The American Legion Post 568 is an institution in Minooka and represents the very best of that neighborhood and the City of Scranton. Please don’t put law enforcement in a position where we are forced to file criminal charges because of conduct that is easily avoidable. This would stain the legion, its members, its history and Minooka,” wrote Gallagher. “Failure to comply will result in enforcement action without further notice.”
On 8/22/25 Gallagher wrote in an email to The Scranton City News, “In reviewing all the evidence with my Chief County Detective Tom Davis and Deputy Chief Chris Kolcharno, we have decided to issue a warning to the Post regarding the liquor raffle. No criminal charges will be filed for illegal gambling.”
DA Gallagher further wrote. “The legion has been issued a verbal and written warning, advising them of the technical violation and that any more violations could result in criminal charges. I believe a warning at this stage is the fair and just route to take especially considering that the PSP BLCE filed two citations against this POST for the raffle. This will be their only warning.”
In a 7/29/25 email to The Scranton City News District Office Commander, Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement in Wilkes-Barre Sergeant H. Christopher Bonin, wrote:
“The Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement has completed an investigation into this licensee and will be issuing citations for the following liquor law violations:
Liquor Law Section – 40:5.32(e)(3) Offered and/or gave liquor and/or malt or brewed beverages as a prize.
Liquor Law Section – 10:328.503 Failed to maintain complete and truthful records covering the operation of the licensed business for a period of two years immediately preceding 07/10/25 concerning the local option small games of chance act.
These charges will be brought before an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) who has the authority to impose penalties ranging from $50-$1,000 for minor offenses and up to $5,000 for more serious offenses. In addition, the ALJ can also impose a license suspension or revocation of the license based on the severity of the charge brought. The ALJ can also mandate training for the licensee in an effort to educate them on the requirement of being a licensee.”
The Scranton City News could not determine the hearing date or how American Legion Post 568 representatives will plead to the violations.
On 9/4/25 state police at department headquarters in Harrisburg posted a public press release confirming the filing of citations against “Connolly Post Veterans Camp Home Association” in the June 28 Yeti cooler-loaded-with-liquor raffle at Post 568 in Minooka.
Rep. Donahue ended his email response to me by writing, “In our current world that is filled with hate and vitriol, Post 568 should be commended for the good for the good work they do in their community and not used as a pawn in one of your personal vendettas.”
I’m a constituent whom state lawmaker Donahue represents. I also hold public officials accountable through aggressive journalism. As the grandson of a Minooka Irish immigrant coal miner who died from Black Lung and who proudly became an American citizen, I take seriously the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment in our nation of law.
The political is always personal. And the search for truth is always good. So is calling out worthless public servants who abuse the public trust the way Donahue and O’Shea squander their obligation to serve democracy and justice.
Has O’Shea taken any responsibility and apologized for his disgraceful behavior? Has O’Shea apologized to military veterans and their families for risking the American Legion Post 568 liquor license that helps raise money for veterans’ services? Has O’Shea apologized for his reckless and feckless Facebook stupidity?
Has Rep. Donahue disciplined O’Shea? Has Rep. Donahue discussed his staffer’s unethical behavior with Democratic Party leadership or any of his colleagues on the House of Representatives Gaming Oversight Committee? Has Rep. Donahue acknowledged the sad irony of his personal state gambling watchdog duties crapping out against his personal failure to police his own hometown office?
What are the odds either Sean O’Shea or Rep. Kyle Donahue has taken this shameful example of public disservice seriously?
The odds are slim to none.
