Much to the relief of video gambling opponents in St. Clair County, video gambling devices, estimated to be 650 in number, are no longer spinning.
In a letter delivered to all machine owners in the county, Sheriff Terry Surles ordered machine owners to cease operation as of June 13.
Sheriff deputies notified arcade owners about the closing June 12, warning them that any machines operating after June 13 would result in arrest and application of Alabama’s anti-gambling law.
Surles’ letter to arcade business owners also stated that, “Any person who is found in possession of a video gaming device of this type, after 14 days from Thursday, will be charged for possession of a gambling device.”
The decision to shut down the adult arcades was made by St. Clair County District Attorney Van Davis. His decision followed a three-month, countywide, cooperative, undercover operation between the police and sheriff’s departments.
The sting operation culminated in the raids of a Pell City arcade, 777 Treasure Chest, and a Calhoun County business working in conjunction with Treasure Chest to deliver cash payouts, the Golden Chain pawn shop.
Treasure Chest Arcade offered winners of adult video arcade games a choice of $5 food store gift certificates, $5 Wal-Mart gift cards or $5 coupons to the Golden Chain pawn shop in Oxford. The businesses were raided the morning of June 12 for allegedly paying out cash to game winners who took their pawn shop gift certificates to the Oxford location and exchanged them for currency.
The raid was conducted by Pell City police June 12 after search warrants were obtained from St. Clair and Calhoun County judges.
The recent infiltration of the gaming devices into St. Clair County was a direct result of the majority of the state’s district attorneys deeming them illegal in their jurisdictions.
Davis’ intentions were to allow the arcades to remain open until a ruling was issued by the Alabama Supreme Court determining the machines’ legality. Because of St. Clair’s stance, the unsuspecting county became a mecca for arcades, with reports of machine owners calling from as far away as Mobile looking for rental property.
However, with reports of blatant cash payouts from arcades throughout the county, as well as the growing number of arcades opening, county, city and law enforcement officials decided to halt the operation of the controversial machines.
State paper plays role
Pell City Mayor Guin Robinson praised The Alabama Baptist for its contribution in assisting the police department with its investigation.
“Pell City is so indebted to The Alabama Baptist newspaper for making us aware and keeping us informed about crucial information surrounding the illegal activities of some of these video gambling arcades,” he said.
“The newspaper has been a tremendous help in providing us pertinent leads, and we are grateful for the paper’s diligent coverage of this issue,” he added.
The mayor also noted that a communitywide ministerial meeting, hosted by First Baptist Church, Pell City, was held June 13. “We had a great turnout with 14 ministers and they couldn’t have been more pleased with the city’s position on this issue,” he said.
Pell City Police Chief Greg Turley, who oversaw the undercover operation of the arcade, said his department supports the sheriff’s decision to cease all adult arcade operations.
“We’ve got lots of interviews yet to conduct and information to sort through,” he said, adding that he feels confident arrest warrants will be issued for a number of violations. “We’re working jointly with all law enforcement and several business divisions in the city and county,” he said.
Law enforcement officials confiscated legal pads at both establishments that allegedly contained names of arcade gift certificate winners as well as individuals who received cash payouts at the pawn shop. According to officials, the operator of the arcade, Rick Taylor of Oxford, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of cash payouts at the pawn shop, which he says he no longer owns.
However, sources told The Alabama Baptist that pawn shop employees referred to Rick as their boss and “one of the owners.”
Incorporation papers filed through the Alabama Secretary of State office list a Jessica Leigh Taylor as the registered agent and incorporator of Winner’s Paradise, Inc., of Oxford. Her name also is listed as the registered agent and incorporator of Golden Chain, Inc., of Oxford. Both dates for incorporation were filed March 8, 2002. Taylor has a 20-year-old daughter named Jessica Leigh.
Rick Taylor is listed as the incorporator of Value Pawn & Discount of Anniston. Sources report that Taylor’s 18-year-old son, Grant, also worked occasionally at the arcade. In an interview with The Alabama Baptist, Taylor, who says he is a former Calhoun County banker, repeatedly stated he ran a business that complied with the law and his business did not pay out in cash.
Hearing set
Taylor is scheduled to go before the Pell City city council June 24 for a hearing that will determine his business license status. He requested an earlier date, but as of press time it had not changed.
Several weeks ago Taylor gave 200 $5 coupons worth $1,000 in “free play” at Treasure Chest arcade to city officials encouraging them to distribute them to city employees. The bright green coupons do not have the name of the Treasure Chest arcade printed on them. According to City Attorney Robert Minor, the distribution of gift certificates without the arcade’s identity is in violation of the city ordinance.
As of June 14, a sign was taped to the inside of the Treasure Chest arcade explaining to customers the business was temporarily closed with plans to reopen by June 17. The sheriff’s letter notifying business owners of arcade closings was taped on the outside of the door.
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