A St. Paul man who prosecutors say led a group that committed 44 burglaries and attempted burglaries across the metro area — netting $197,000 in cash from pull-tab proceeds intended for Minnesota charities and organizations — has been sentenced to more than six years in prison.

Arron Scott King Sr., a 51-year-old prolific burglar whose criminal history goes back three decades, received his 78-month sentence last week after pleading guilty to racketeering in Hennepin County District Court in connection with the break-ins between March 2023 and February 2024.The criminal complaint against King and seven other men, including his son, Arron Scott King Jr., allege the elder King ran the operation out of his home in St. Paul.

The men found information on target businesses and used pry bars and sledgehammers to break into buildings and open safes that stored pull-tab proceeds, the complaint states.

The stolen funds were for groups such as the Irish Football Boosters, Eastview Hockey Association, Roseville Youth Hockey Association and the Jefferson Athletic Foundation.

Among the establishments that lost charitable gambling proceeds: Forest Lake VFW Post 4210, $25,513; The Clover in Rosemount, $24,083; Full Tilt Tavern in Bloomington, $18,367; Bogart’s in Apple Valley, $14,224; Hudy’s Cafe in Champlin, $12,384; and Stout’s Bar & Grill in Falcon Heights.

Other places that reported break-ins but nothing stolen included Cherry Pit Bar & Grill in St. Paul, Crooked Pint Ale House in Maplewood, Gallagher’s Bar & Grill in West St. Paul and Keller Golf Course in Maplewood.

Agents with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement division began coordinating an investigation in August 2023 “after seeing a pattern of burglaries that targeted pull-tab charitable funds,” according to a press release issued in May 2025, when the charges were filed.

The agents worked with numerous law-enforcement agencies across multiple jurisdictions.

“When you’re paying to open up a pull tab, you don’t want your money ending up in criminal hands,” Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Director Carla Cincotta said. “These alleged criminals weren’t just stealing money — they were stealing from kids, from families, from veterans and from programs that build stronger communities. Thanks to the solid investigative work of our agency and law enforcement partners, we stopped this group in their tracks.”

‘Tell your dad there’s 20 plus’

The Bungalow Inn in Lakeland was burglarized just before 3 a.m. July 24, 2023, with a safe containing $17,707 in charitable gambling funds belonging to American Legion Post #491 in Bayport stolen.

Security camera footage showed a suspect arrived in a light-colored sedan and used a “mining axe-like tool” to pop a door’s deadbolt, then head over to the pull-tab booth, the complaint says. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office investigated, but was unable to positively identify any suspects.

Further investigation indicated that the group had a role in the burglary, the complaint says.

King Sr.’s web activity showed he searched for directions, and later texted his accomplice’s daughter, “Tell your dad there’s 20 plus,” the complaint states.

About an hour before the break-in, King Sr. texted another person, saying “u don’t understand its so much money” and “there’s bands in here its clear let’s get it.”

Less than two hours after the burglary, King Sr. took a selfie holding a wad of cash to his ear as though it were a phone. Later that morning, he deposited $2,380 in cash to his Trustone bank account.

Court records show King Sr. has 11 prior burglary-related convictions since 1993, all in Anoka, Ramsey, Hennepin and Washington counties.

As part of his sentencing on the racketeering charges, King Sr. was ordered to pay restitution totaling $17,707 to Auto Owners Insurance Co. and $935 to Welsch’s Big Tavern, an Arden Hills business burglarized on July 27, 2023.

3 others sentenced

Three of King’s accomplices were already sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to racketeering. Late last year, Tyler Paananen-Berneche, 32, of Newport, and Cory Rosillo, 55, of Mankato, were both given four-year terms, while Emondre Morrison, 29, of West St. Paul, received a stayed 6½-year sentence.

Two others charged in the case have also pleaded guilty, and are awaiting sentencing: Arron Scott King Jr., 27, of St. Paul, Sean Charles Fikes, 49, of Minneapolis.

The final defendants, Jawan Jackson, 35, of Hugo, and Dale Massie, Jr., 50, of St. Paul, have jury trials scheduled for this summer.