Sheriff’s arrest latest in series of video poker cases

The Thursday arrest of former Sheriff Bobby Medford and three of his former deputies is the latest in a series of arrests and raids related to video gambling. Pending cases in Buncombe County include:

Nov. 14, 2006: State and federal agents raided nearly two dozen businesses and homes connected to Hendersonville restaurateur Demetre Theodossis. Agents involved in the 18-month investigation seized illegal gambling machines and said they found $1.8 million stashed in the man’s attic, dog food containers and in false walls in his house.

In their investigation, state agents played machines and won illegal cash payouts from Buncombe County locations, according to search warrants.

• May 7, 2007: Buncombe County investigators seized nine video poker machines in Candler following an undercover operation.

Dhansukhbhai Bhakta, 47, of Candler, was charged with felony possession of video poker machines. The operation in a back room of a store was walled off from view, inside and outside, authorities said.

• July 12, 2007: Authorities charged seven people in connection with a series of raids the previous month, following a four-month investigation into illegal video gambling. Buncombe County sheriff’s deputies and N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agents raided seven businesses and a residence, seizing at least $25,000 and 12 machines.

Those charged were:

• Mary Ellen Mears, 62, and Charles Bernard Mears, 69, of Shady Creek Lane in Leicester, charged with gambling, allowing gambling in a public house, making illegal cash payments on video poker and operating a video poker machine.

• Johnny Lawrence Bradley, 59, of Sugar Cove Road in Weaverville, charged with allowing illegal video poker machines in an establishment, operating a video poker machine, keeping illegal video poker machines where illegal cash payments were made and allowing gambling to occur in an ABC licensed establishment.

• Melinda Ann Watkins, 33, of Ferry Road in Asheville, charged with gambling, possession of a slot machine and operating an illegal video gambling machine in an ABC licensed premise.

• Martha Jean Shelton, 66, of New Leicester Highway in Asheville, charged with operating a video poker machine and gambling.

• Angela Marie Ponder, 30, of New Stock Road in Weaverville, charged with operating an illegal gambling operation in an ABC establishment, gambling and operating an illegal video poker machine in which cash payments were made.

• Eleanor Faye Worley-Craig, 48, of Rough Creek Road in Canton, charged with possession of a video poker machine, operating an illegal video poker gambling operation in an ABC licensed establishment, gambling, allowing video poker machines in an establishment and operating a video poker machine.

Citizen Times

News Added: 14 December, 2007

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