From STAFF REPORTS

ARABI — Agents with the Mid-South Narcotics Task Force and the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office seized four electronic gambling machines and more than $700 in cash from a store here last Friday.

According to a press release provided by Crisp County Sheriff Donnie Haralson, agents served a search warrant on the Arabi Tobacco Mart located at 4065 Bedgood Avenue after investigating illegal gambling at the store. In addition to seizing the machines and cash, agents arrested Sheila Patel of an East 24th Avenue address in Cordele on one count of keeping a gambling place and one count of commercial gambling.

Haralson said he initiated the investigation into the Arabi business after receiving complaints from citizens that the store was paying cash to people who were playing electronic gambling machines in the store.

During the investigation undercover agents were sent into the business and played the gambling machines, which were located in a locked room in the back of the store. Haralson said the undercover officers were paid cash for winning on the machines on three different occasions.

“Businesses who operate these machines and pay out cash are in violation of Georgia law,” said Haralson. “I’m grateful to the citizens who brought this illegal activity to our attention and to the officers who worked so hard to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. I take gambling and related offenses very seriously and I want to encourage anyone who is aware of such activity to contact my office.”

Haralson said Patel was released on a $2,710 bond, but other arrests are pending.