The US authorities launched “Operation Jackpot” earlier this week, in which at least 13 different locations in Georgia were raided and illegal gambling devices seized. Fifteen people were reportedly arrested and the police confiscated hundreds of video gambling and slot machines in the operation.
The Clayton County Sheriff’s office had undertaken a three month investigation into the illegal gambling activities after several citizens made a complaint.
Operation Jackpot involved at least 150 officers from a number of departments, including the FBI, the US Marshals Service and even the Immigration Customs Enforcement. “It’s a huge investigation,” said Sheriff Kem Kimbourgh.
The police arrested the owner of a gambling machine manufacturing plant called All Star. Larry Lee Simmons also owns The Cedar Room in Riverdale, which wasn’t spared a raid by authorities either.
According to Kimbrough: “We stumbled on a pretty major organization. Turns out these operations are supported by a company that manufactures gambling devices out in Rockdale County. What makes the gambling machines illegal is the fact that they are utilized with cash payouts.”
A man who was led away from the All Star Inc. headquarters was heard yelling: “It’s illegal to pay out. We don’t pay out!”
According the sheriff, the company’s warehouse contained machines that could be deemed legal and illegal. “Anytime one of these machines is utilized such that the winner gets the cash payout, then that is the offense of commercial gambling,” he said.
Those arrested face charges ranging from illegal gambling to the manufacturing and possession of gambling devices. Thousands of dollars in cash were also seized by authorities.
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