You won’t believe this guy’s reaction when a news reporter asks him about the illegal gambling operation going on right under his nose! After over 100 illegal gambling machines were seized in Etowah County, this local man is caught off guard and denies having any knowledge of the operation. But his reaction tells a different story! Watch until the end for a good laugh.
Law enforcement officials in Etowah County have conducted a two-week investigation leading to the seizure of 108 illegal gambling machines and over $13,000. The investigation was initiated following complaints from residents in one neighborhood, prompting authorities to take action.
According to Etowah County Sheriff Jonathon Horton, the authorities had bigger tasks to perform but were compelled to investigate due to the complaints received from residents. Sheriff Horton emphasized the importance of addressing the concerns of the residents, stating that “everybody’s problem is a problem.” He went on to say that the operation would hopefully serve as a message to other illegal gambling operations in the county.
On Thursday, search warrants were executed at five different locations in Gadsden, resulting in the seizure of the illegal gambling machines and money. No individuals were found at any of the locations during the search. The seized machines were found in areas such as South 11th Street, Lay Street, Forrest Avenue, and West Meighan Blvd.
Sheriff Horton expressed his willingness to go through the trouble of enforcing the law, despite the fact that illegal gambling is only punishable by a $500 fine and up to a year in jail. He also noted that some residents had reported blocked driveways and streets, leading to the investigation of certain locations.
Many of the illegal gambling locations were reportedly in residential areas and kept under wraps, with no signage or clear indication of their presence. Sheriff Horton noted that the undercover nature of these locations made it challenging to interact with the owners and patrons before executing search warrants.
Some residents in the affected areas claimed to have had no knowledge of the illegal gambling operations taking place in their neighborhood. Three of the locations that were searched had received a “cease and desist” order in the past, but all three had relocated to new buildings within the county.
Sheriff Horton’s message to illegal gambling operators in Etowah County was clear: “If you got a gaming machine in Etowah County, just because we didn’t come yesterday, we’re coming soon, do us a favor and get them out of the county, out of the state.”
At the time of writing, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.