Game Over, Illegal Video Poker Ring
Investigators say its game over, for members of an illegal video poker machine sting. The six -month undercover investigation led to the arrests of four men in one county in the east. One of the men--is a school board member and hospital trustee. Billy Ray Peaden faces one felony count of machine and devices prohibited by law. The illegal machines and felony arrests are bringing mixed reactions, from those who say gambling of this kind, shouldn't be a crime. Pitt County ABC Law Enforcement officers with the help of the Pitt County Sheriff's Office, seized nine machines along with stolen firearms and drugs from stores across Pitt County--all owned and operated by Peaden. Management wasn't willing to answer questions, one store locked their doors. Customers who frequent one of four of Peaden's locations say they knew of his second business. "Only certain people could play them,” said Brandon Brown. “He had them hidden in a back corner." But some think the sting is going too far. "I think they should be legal--I mean you have the North Carolina Lottery,” said Douglas Gorham. “So why not have that [video gambling]?” Angela Davis agrees, “It's still gambling. But we're selling lottery tickets--but it's legal? Authorities say misdemeanor charges are pending against three other men involved in the investigation. Peadon is out on a $45,000 bond. We contacted both PCMH and Pitt County Schools for comment but they have yet to return our calls.
WNCT.com – Jul 16, 2008 03:35 AM [GMT]
found in Local: North Carolina: Greenville-New Bern-Washington
Investigators say its game over, for members of an illegal video poker machine sting. The six -month undercover investigation led to the arrests of four men in one county in the east. One of the men--is a school board member and hospital trustee. Billy Ray Peaden faces one felony count of machine and devices prohibited by law. The illegal machines and felony arrests are bringing mixed reactions, from those who say gambling of this kind, shouldn't be a crime. Pitt County ABC Law Enforcement officers with the help of the Pitt County Sheriff's Office, seized nine machines along with stolen firearms and drugs from stores across Pitt County--all owned and operated by Peaden. Management wasn't willing to answer questions, one store locked their doors. Customers who frequent one of four of Peaden's locations say they knew of his second business. "Only certain people could play them,” said Brandon Brown. “He had them hidden in a back corner." But some think the sting is going too far. "I think they should be legal--I mean you have the North Carolina Lottery,” said Douglas Gorham. “So why not have that [video gambling]?” Angela Davis agrees, “It's still gambling. But we're selling lottery tickets--but it's legal? Authorities say misdemeanor charges are pending against three other men involved in the investigation. Peadon is out on a $45,000 bond. We contacted both PCMH and Pitt County Schools for comment but they have yet to return our calls.
WNCT.com – Jul 16, 2008 03:35 AM [GMT]
found in Local: North Carolina: Greenville-New Bern-Washington
1 comment
Profanity Filter Is Off |
I still don't think that NC should have the right to sell lottery tickets to stuff their coffers and a business man can't have entertainment and pay taxes on the income for the people of NC. We should be able to choose how we spend what little money we have left after filling our tanks with fuel and the NC state getting the highest fuel tax in these United States. If people want to play the video machines then leave them alone and let them enjoy them on their free time. They are a game of skill and the player has the choice of what he does with his hard earned money. I wonder some time if we are a free Nation. Leave the old widows and singles that enjoy playing Video poker, Bingo alone . At least they are not out shooting people and selling drugs that are killing our youth. Mostly the people that play these games are lonely and it gives them the opportunity to have a place to be able to have some kind of company instead of sitting home in front of the tube, with no one to talk to or enjoy others in a social way. Let the ALE and other agency that are waisting time and tax payer money not doing anything about the drugs that are in our cities and all over the State. Have you ever seen a bingo player or machine player kill somebody? They are entitled to some form of pleasure with out being harassed comment by mac1944 - Jul 16, 2008 05:10 AM [GMT] [ reply ] |
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