CLINTON — The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement served search warrants Thursday at four businesses operating as illegal gambling establishments in Sampson County. The searches were a result of an undercover investigation into sweepstakes and video-poker operations.

Included in the group of eight arrests was Jeffrey Scott Smith of Dublin, who has and/or will be facing similar charges in Columbus and Bladen counties. His Internet sweepstakes site on Hwy. 87 in Dublin, Aladdin, was shut down in May by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.

The locations searched included:

— Top Catz, 102 Williams St. in Autryville.

— Roseboro Overstock, 101 E. Roseboro S. in, Roseboro.

— JMJ Coin Laundry, 206 E. MLK Blvd. in Roseboro

— Clinton Overstock, 912 S. East Blvd. in Clinton.

Deputies seized approximately 200 sweepstakes and video-poker machines and an undisclosed amount of money.

ALE also conducted an inspection at an additional business licensed by the North Carolina Education Lottery. Agents located four video poker machines at Lucky Stop, located at 208 Williams St. in Autryville. A violation report will be submitted to the N.C. Education Lottery Commission documenting the violations.

“ALE received a request for assistance from the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office after they received multiple complaints. We initiated a plan to address the illegal operation of these gambling establishments. These locations were operating machines that are illegal to possess. These operations have no oversight or checks and balances to ensure citizens are protected from criminal activity related to fraud and other crimes,” said ALE Special Agent in Charge Jason Locklear. “Three of the five businesses were visited on site on June 30, 2015, and informed that the continued operation of illegal gaming machines would be at their own risk.”

“The Sheriff’s Office partnered with ALE to address this criminal activity in Sampson County. We value the working relationship with ALE and we will continue to investigate illegal operations such as these. The investigation is continuing and we expect additional arrests and charges,” said Sampson County Sheriff Jimmy Thornton.

The following employees were charged:

Clinton Overstock

— Wanda Faye Milligan (owner), 63, of Clinton. She was charged with feloniously operate five or more server-based gaming machines (three counts), feloniously possess five or more gaming terminals (three counts), place in operation an electronic machine to promote a sweepstakes that is conducted through an entertaining display (eight counts), gambling (three counts).

— Randall M. Malpass (employee), 54, of Clinton. He was charged with feloniously operate five or more server-based gaming machines (six counts), place in operation an electronic machine to promote a sweepstakes that is conducted through an entertaining display (12 counts), gambling (three counts).

— Jeffrey Scott Smith (owner), 45, of Dublin. He was charged with feloniously operate five or more server-based gaming machines (two counts), feloniously possess five or more server-based gaming machines (two counts), place in operation an electronic machine to promote a sweepstakes that is conducted through an entertaining display (four counts), gambling (two counts).

Roseboro Overstock

— James Donald Clark (owner), 68, of Roseboro. He was charged with feloniously operate five or more server-based gaming machines (six counts), feloniously possess five or more gaming terminals (six counts), place in operation an electronic machine to promote a sweepstakes that is conducted through an entertaining display (12 counts), gambling (six counts).

— Sandra Allcot Clark (owner), 61, of Roseboro. She was charged with feloniously operate five or more server-based gaming machines (six counts), feloniously possess five or more gaming terminals (six counts), place in operation an electronic machine to promote a sweepstakes that is conducted through an entertaining display (12 counts), gambling (six counts).

JMJ Coin Laundry

— Tommy Nguyen (owner), 41, of Roseboro. He was charged with feloniously operate five or more server-based gaming machines (three counts), gambling (three counts).

Top Catz

— Nicholas Maurice Maness (manager), 37, of Robbins. He was charged with feloniously operate five or more server-based gaming machines (six counts), place in operation an electronic machine to promote a sweepstakes that is conducted through an entertaining display (10 counts), gambling (five counts).

Lucky Stop

— Sultan Albadani (employee), 19, of Stedman. He was charged with gambling (one count).

Smith
http://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/web1_JeffSmith.jpgSmith
Dublin man among those arrested

Staff report