More arrests in gambling raids
8th November, 2007
The arrests took place in the city of Mobile in an operation which saw the father and son jailed and 64 electronis gambling machines seized.
The arrested duo, Jerry and Paul Cordell have since been released on police bail and have made no statement to the press at this time.
The investigation and subsequent arrests were triggered when a player won a cash payout from one of the machines. Although promoted as games of skill, they are infact seen as games of chance and therefore made illegal in 2004 by the Supreme Court of Alabama. The machines which only cost about £1500, can bring the owner incomes of up to £200K a year.
The Cordells have been charged with possessing gambling devices and promoting gambling. Other men were arrested in the raid, but have yet to be named by police.
Among property seized were the game machines themselves, substantial sums of cash, tickets for the machines and the Cordell's bank account was frozen.
Police say that their findings will be shared with the FBI. The police have been accused of grossly exaggerating the case.
