Sunday, February 04, 2007

Warner Robins Police raided three businesses Friday in a crackdown on video
poker machines. "We have a history of problems with them," said, Lt. Lance
Watson of the Warner Robins Police Department Narcotics Intelligence Unit.
Watson said he was working with the District Attorney's Office on the
crackdown on video gambling. "We gave them a warning. Kelly (Burke, DA) gave
a seminar," to local business owners. The investigation revealed that
several businesses were paying cash for winning tickets from gambling
devices, while they are only allowed to issue vouchers for in-store
merchandise. "This is what happens," Watson said. "Maybe this will serve
notice." "We'll probably go try another in a few weeks, he added." On
Friday, the Warner Robins Police Department Narcotics Intelligence Unit
executed three search warrants at the following locations in reference to
commercial gambling: Andy's Food Mart, 1101 North Houston Road; All-In-One
Gifts, 748 C North Houston Road: and Quick Stop Food Mart, 935 Coder Road.
As a result of the search warrants, approximately $8,000 in cash and 24
gambling devices were seized and the following persons were arrested on
charges of commercial gambling, keeping a gambling place, and possession of
gambling device or equipment: At Andy's Food Mart, Anilaben Patel, 44, and
Jitendra Patel, 48, both of 107 Montview Way, Centerville; At Quick Stop
Food Mart, Ambitbhai Patel, 61, and Shakuntalaben Patel, 57, both of 102
Plaza Drive, Perry; At All-In-One Gifts, Teresita Woods, 63, of 822 Pine
St., Warner Robins.
The commercial gambling charge is a felony, while the other two charges -
keeping a gambling place, and possession of gambling device or equipment are
misdemeanors. The felony charge has a $1,100 bond, while the misdemeanors
are $600 each. All five have been released from jail, each paying $1,700 to
bond out. Watson said the city is looking at an ordinance on the gaming
machines like neighboring municipalities have. Perry has such an ordinance.
"The biggest problem is controlling it," Watson said. "If we could get a
handle on them. If there were five and we knew where they were, it would be
easier. Right now we have so many locations in the city."