Eight Individuals Charged in Illegal Gambling Operation

JACKSON, MS—A federal grand jury returned an indictment against eight individuals from the Meridian, Mississippi area in connection with illegal gambling operations, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis; Gabriel Grchan, Special Agent in Charge of IRS-Criminal Investigation; and Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The Indictment charges William Wayne (Bill) Gordon, Sr., age 79; Mildred Gordon, age 76; William Wayne (Wayne) Gordon, Jr., age 55; Nellie Miller, age 50; Cameron Gordon, age 24; Dennis Michael Gordon, age 54; Richard McKissack, age 50; and Christopher Crawford, age 38, in count one with conspiracy to commit a federal offense under 18 U.S.C. §371. Count two of the indictment charges William Wayne (Bill) Gordon, Sr., Mildred Gordon, William Wayne (Wayne) Gordon, Jr., Nellie Miller, Cameron Gordon, Richard McKissack, and Christopher Crawford with violation of the prohibition of operating illegal gambling business under 18 U.S.C. §1955. The maximum penalty for each offense is five years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. The defendants are scheduled to appear for arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball on Tuesday, November 26, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. at the U.S. Courthouse in Jackson, Mississippi.

According to the indictment, the charges are associated with the operation of illegal gambling businesses from November 2011 through at least May 14, 2013, at the following locations in Meridian, Mississippi: The Snack Shack, located at 1479 Highway 11 and 80; The Sports Connection, which is commonly referred to as “the Log Cabin," located at 501 46th Avenue; and The New Place, located at 401 23rd Avenue. It is alleged that at these locations, the defendants would accept illegal wagers on the outcome of college and professional sporting events and then collect and remove the wagers from these locations and grade the bets based on the outcome of the wagered event to calculate winnings and losses for those persons placing the wagers. Thereafter, the defendants would pay persons with winning wagers and keep the remaining funds for their personal use and benefit. The indictment in the case also alleges that the defendants would possess, own, control, display, operate, and expose for play illegal gambling and gaming devices, such as illegal video poker machines. It is alleged that the illegal gambling businesses were conducted in violation of Mississippi law and remained in substantially continuous operation for a period in excess of 30 days.

The indictment also gives notice of the United States’ intent to seek criminal forfeiture of eight pieces of real property in Meridian, Mississippi, associated with the alleged criminal conduct, as well as approximately $125,905.15 seized from locations associated with the gambling operation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carla J. Clark and J. Scott Gilbert. The investigation was conducted by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an accusation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.