The general manager of an alleged Roseville gambling operation pleaded guilty to a reduced charge while his father will go to trial this week on the allegation he orchestrated illegal gambling.

Lucas Hoppe, 31, offered the confession,albeit with hesitation,Tuesday to attempted operation of a gambling facility in exchange for the dismissal of three other related charges in Macomb County Circuit Court in Macomb in a plea deal with the Michigan Attorney Generals Office.

He admitted to managing 777 Caf on Gratiot Avenue, north of Masonic Boulevard, which held several gaming machines, in 2018, although he hesitated when asked if the machines were considered gambling.

Im not, I guess , Hoppe replied, making a hand motion indicating he was not sure.

Assistant Attorney General Bob Hayes offered: Money goes in the machines, and money would be paid out in cash?

Hoppe didnt reply, but then agreed with his attorney, Eli Muawad, that he attempted an illegal gambling operation.

Muawad said he will ask for probation for his client at his March 12 sentencing.

Meanwhile, Hoppes father, David, 57, decided to reject a plea offer and will fight the charges in a trial that was slated to begin Tuesday afternoon with jury selection.

David Hoppe is charged with gambling operations,punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000; using a computer to commit a crime, punishable by up to 10 years and/or a fine of up to $10,000; maintaining a gambling house for gain, a high-court misdemeanor punishable by up to two years in prison or fine of up to $1,000, and using computer to commit a crime, punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

In the plea deal, he could have pleaded to the main gambling operation charge, the 10-year felony, in exchange for dismissal of the additional charges.

Hayes added at a prior court hearing that if David Hoppe didnt accept the plea deal, the state would charge him with a racketeering charge related to a gambling machine in Genesee County.

David Hoppe in 2013 pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of maintaining an illegal gambling or gaming facility in St. Clair Countys 72ndDistrict court. He was originally charged with a 10-year felony charge of conducting a gambling operation where wagering was used without a license.

The now-closed 777 Cafe in Roseville.

As part of the plea arrangement, he agreed he would not make available to the public any gaming machines not certified as non-gambling devices by either the Michigan Gaming Control Board or a laboratory the MGCB deemed eligible to test and certify such machines.

Hoppe claims experts in gaming machines determined the machines in the Roseville facility were not for the purpose of gambling. The state maintains otherwise.

David Hoppes aunt, Denise Hagen, who worked at the caf, also was charged. But visiting Judge James Biernat Sr. granted Hayes motion to dismiss the charges against her.

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Son admits to attempting to operate Roseville gambling cafe while father goes to trial - The Macomb Daily