THOMASVILLE, N.C. – The business owners involved in a sweepstakes raid in Thomasville have now been charged with gambling in the case.
On Wednesday, the Thomasville Police Department and state Alcohol Law Enforcement agents charged ten people with and their businesses with multiple gambling violations.
It's all part of a sweepstakes crackdown that started on April 24. That's when police and agents seized 115 illegal slot machines, gambling paraphernalia, glass pipes and $44,119 as part of the crackdown.
Jeff Insley, Thomasville Police Chief said the investigation started after they received complaints on the illegal gambling operations. The gambling sweepstakes businesses are in violation of state law.
Mike Yates, Special Agent over ALE's Greensboro district office stated, "The arrests in Thomasville should serve notice to other illegal gambling operations these types of operations will not be tolerated."
The following people and corporations have been charged:
Location: Julian Internet Café, 504 Julian Avenue, Thomasville
Michael Todd Jordan, 48, of Burlington
- Operate four illegal slot machines
- Gambling
Location: Lady Luck, 1008 National Highway, Thomasville
Konstandinos George Rizos, 49, of High Point
- Feloniously operate and possess 15 illegal slot machines
- Gambling
- Possession of a gaming table
- Sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit
Lady Luck LLC
- Feloniously operate and possess 15 illegal slot machines
- Gambling
- Possession of a gaming table
- Sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit
Location: Lucky Streak Sweepstakes, 1050 National Highway, Thomasville
Michael Wayne Byars II, 34, of Gaffney, South Carolina
- Feloniously operate and possess eight illegal slot machines
- Gambling
- Sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit
Victor L. McCray, 61, of Trinity
- Feloniously operate and possess eight illegal slot machines
- Gambling
- Sell alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit
Location: Jackpot 777 Sweepstakes, 1028 Randolph Street, Thomasville
John Garr, 70, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
- Feloniously operate and possess 31 illegal slot machines
- Gambling
Carl Webster Grubb III, 55, of Trinity
- Feloniously operate and possess of 31 illegal slot machines
- Gambling
Come Monday LLC
- Feloniously operate and possess 31 illegal slot machines
- Gambling
Location: Pot O' Gold, 220 Cedar Lodge Road, Suite C and D, Thomasville
Gregory Todd Warren, 44, of High Point
- Feloniously operate and possess 48 illegal slot machines
- Gambling
Stephen J. Ells, 41, of Myrtle Beach, S.C.
- Feloniously operate and possess 48 illegal slot machines
- Gambling
Locations: Shah 's Games, 504 National Highway, Thomasville
Pantry Shop 5, 500 National Highway, Thomasville
Harshaben Ra Jeshkumar Shah, 41, of Greensboro
- Feloniously operate and possess ten illegal slot machines
- Gambling
- Knowingly allow gambling violations to occur at a location issued an ABC permit
- Knowingly allow drug violations to occur at a location issued an ABC permit
- Deliver drug paraphernalia
Rajeshkumar Gordhandas Shah, 46, of Greensboro
- Feloniously operate and possess of ten illegal slot machines
- Gambling
- Knowingly allow gambling violations to occur at a location issued an ABC permit
- Knowingly allow drug violations to occur at a location issued an ABC permit
- Deliver drug paraphernalia
Priyanka Inc.
- Feloniously operate and possess of ten illegal slot machines
- Gambling
- Knowingly allow gambling violations to occur at a location issued an ABC permit
- Knowingly allow drug violations to occur at a location issued an ABC permit
- Deliver drug paraphernalia
