Six accused of gambling in local stores – News – The Daily News … – Jacksonville Daily News

Amanda Thames AmandaThames

Three locations were busted and six people arrested in connection with alleged illegal gambling.

The Onslow County Sheriffs Office conducted a two-month-long investigation into Holly Mart, located at 954 U.S. 17 South in Holly Ridge; BJs Yard Sale, located at 3117 Richlands Hwy in Jacksonville; and Best Exxon, located at 2945 Richlands Hwy in Jacksonville, according to a press release.

During a search of the three locations on Thursday, the sheriffs office allegedly seized 11 gambling machines, gambling paraphernalia, ledgers, receipts, tally sheets, and gambling proceeds, according to the press release.

The money seized, $11,667, was the total from all three establishments, said Maj. Chris Thomas with the sheriffs office.

The first complaint about these stores gambling came in eight months ago, Thomas said, but he believes the alleged gambling practices have been going on for a long time.

The complaints came from several different people, including people whod heard about it, people who felt theyd been defrauded by the establishments, and other business owners, Thomas said.

Inside, the establishments allegedly had machines people put money into to play games and received a voucher with their winnings they would then redeem for cash, he said.

Gambling is illegal in North Carolina, Thomas said.

The sheriffs office began investigating these stores two months ago, Thomas said, and although all of the warrants were served on Thursday, they were part of separate investigations.

It takes time to verify the fact that they were gambling, Thomas said.

There are other investigations ongoing, Thomas said, and he believes there are other places in Onslow County participating in gambling.

The following people were arrested Thursday.

Thomas Alexander Newkirk, 31, of Armstrong Drive in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. His bond was set at $5,000. He is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Teresa Hollis Evans, 66, of U.S. Hwy 17 in Holly Ridge was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. Her bond was set at $6,000. She is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Richard Earl Melton Jr., 29, of Rainmaker Drive in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. His bond was set at $3,000. He recently bonded out of jail, according to VineLink.

Teresa Ann Blakley, 57, of Kenwood Drive in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. Her bond was set at $5,000. She is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Malek Redhwan Taher-Maswarah, 32, of Cordell Circle in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; and misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables. His bond was set at $5,000. He is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Eyad Ahmed Saleh, 20, of Wilmington Hwy in Jacksonville was charged with misdemeanor gambling violation; misdemeanor operate or possess a slot machine; misdemeanor allowing gambling in a public house; misdemeanor allowing gaming tables; misdemeanor keeping slot machines and gaming tables; conducting gambling at a licensed ABC premise; and consuming alcohol by a 19 or 20 year old. His bond was set at $7,000. He is not listed as being in jail custody, according to VineLink.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Onslow County Sheriff's Office at 910-455-3113 or Crime Stoppers at 910-938-3273. Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 for information provided thats deemed of value or assistance to law enforcement. Callers to Crime Stoppers are not required to reveal their identities. Information can also be anonymously texted via Text-A-Tip by typing TIP4CSJAX and the message to 274637.

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