Authorities bust illegal gambling operations in Connecticut, Mississippi

As a result of recently stepped-up efforts to tackle unregulated gambling, authorities in Connecticut and Mississippi have uncovered illegal operations and issued multiple arrests and charges.

Police discovered seven illegal gambling machines at Cocchia’s Liquor Store on Ely Avenue in Norwalk, Connecticut. The Hour reported that Felix Galinda-Castillo and Jose Gerado Fuentes-Lima were charged 7 August in connection with the illegal gambling operation. The raid also uncovered drugs hidden in the store’s beer cooler and two fake firearms.

The following day, WTVA 9 News in Mississippi reported that law enforcement discovered a similar illegal gambling operation at AK Express on Highway 8 East in Grenada County. Amy Watson was arrested. Authorities from the Mississippi Gaming Commission and Alcoholic Beverage Control seized one machine while destroying the rest.

Intensified efforts across the US
Connecticut and Mississippi are not alone in their crackdown on illegal gambling operations. In Florida, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office recently shut down 11 illegal casinos following an investigation supported by the Florida Gaming Control Commission. Law enforcement discovered 400 slot machines and $403,000 in cash during the operation.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) also continues to take action against illegal gambling operations. In April, the MGCB announced the removal of 167 gambling machines over the past year, with 24 individuals facing charges.

“Operations of these unregulated gaming machines puts citizens at risk — because they have no recourse should they be misled, cheated, or otherwise taken advantage of,” wrote the MGCB in a recent press release.

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