More than $64,000 seized in Greenville gambling bust

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20100120/NEWS/1200366/More-than-64-000-seized-in-Greenville-gambling-bust

Nearly $64,000 sitting in an evidence room on Wednesday was seized from what Greenville County sheriff’s deputies described as a “gambling business” and could be used to pay for new training and equipment.

The amount is on “the higher end” of what would normally be seized in a single operation, with more than $41,000 coming from an Anderson man identified as the business owner, deputies said.

The money must remain in evidence until the case is heard by a judge, who could order that it be turned over to the Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Matthew Armstrong said. Seized funds can’t be used on recurring expenses, such as salaries.

Twenty-seven people were ticketed on charges of unlawful betting after citizen’s tip led deputies to 90 Lenhardt Road in Greenville late Jan. 14, a deputy wrote in an incident report.

“This was not considered a friendly game of poker because investigators obtained information that there would be a high-dollar buy-in,” Deputy Matthew Armstrong said. “And this is not common with friendly games.”

Inside, deputies found a “buy-in” list, poker chips, gambling tables and five video gaming machines, a deputy wrote in an incident report. Investigators were on the scene for five hours, Armstrong said.

Those charged were summoned to appear in court on Feb. 17, according to tickets.