4 More Businesses Raided by GBI for Gambling Operations

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation raided four more businesses last week as part of an ongoing crackdown on gambling operations.

On Wednesday, March 27, 2019, the GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit, along with the McDonough Police Department and in cooperation with the Georgia Lottery Corporation and the Georgia Department of Revenue, executed a search warrant in McDonough for violations of Georgia’s gambling laws.

A search warrant was executed at one business location in McDonough. The business location was:

• Motorhead’s Bar and Grill, 650 Macon Street, McDonough

During the course of a lengthy investigation, agents discovered the business was operating Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMS) where customers were receiving cash payouts for winning credits. In Georgia, COAMS must be properly licensed by the Georgia Lottery and credits may only be redeemed for lottery tickets and/or merchandise available at the location. The business was also operating live, casino-style poker games where undercover agents were able to participate in the games, place bets, and win cash.

While searching the location, agents collected evidence related to crimes of commercial gambling and seized monetary assets gained from gambling activity. The owner of the establishment has been charged with Commercial Gambling:

• Traci McDonald, 50, of McDonough

Additional arrests are pending.

On Thursday, March 28, 2019, the GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit, in cooperation with the Georgia Lottery Corporation and the Georgia Department of Revenue, assisted the Woodbury Police Department with the execution of search warrants in Woodbury for violations of Georgia’s gambling laws.

Search warrants were executed at three business locations in Woodbury. The business locations were:

• Two Stop a/k/a Fuel Stop (Skyland Ventures, LLC), 10966 Millarden Road
• Woodbury Citgo (S&R Foods), 18608 Main Street
• Rana’s Tobacco Outlet (Zahra 786, Inc.), 11011 Millarden Road

During the course of a lengthy investigation by the Woodbury Police Department, officers discovered the businesses were operating Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMS) where customers were receiving cash payouts for winning credits. In Georgia, COAMS must be properly licensed by the Georgia Lottery and credits may only be redeemed for lottery tickets and/or merchandise available at the location.

While searching the location, officers and agents collected evidence related to crimes of commercial gambling and seized monetary assets gained from gambling activity.

Arrests are pending.

Information from the GBI.