Wednesday, October 25, 2006

A year-long investigation into suspicions that a Lafayette was conducting
illegal gambling has ended with the arrest of its owner and manager. State
troopers arrived at Jim's Lounge yesterday with a search warrant and at
least two arrest warrants. Trooper Willie Williams says owner Patti Matthieu
and manager Norma Joubert were arrested on one count each of illegal
gambling. Williams said when investigators arrived they found a game of
bourrDe (Boo-Ray) under way with about 20 participants. All of the players
were held and identified but none arrested. Williams says the problem was
that the house was taking a cut of the pot. The game itself is legal to
play. Trooper say there were three tables inside of the lounge and the games
were being played at least three days a week and sometimes four or five
times. Williams says for each five dollar ante, the house made ten dollars
and for each ten dollar ante the house brought in 80 dollars.