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Poker Raids in Atlanta

Comments (16)
by , Apr 11, 2007 | 3:47 pm

Anti-poker insurgents are on the offensive in suburban Atlanta — with dozens arrested at the second big poker-room bust in a week. This is more serious than in Texas, because Georgia law puts running a poker room as a felony, and players aren’t just ticketed … they are taken to jail. One of the 52 players arrested (last night?) was a judge.

The sting came after a monthlong investigation by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office vice unit. Hill said the casino [in Jonesboro] – which had a sign out front saying Poker Palace and is literally down the street from the sheriff’s office – had been operating for about two years.

Things have apparently been made worse in this case because some drugs were found during the raid, and one of the operators allegedly offered a $5,000 bribe to make his problems go away.

Atlanta, of course, is a pretty big poker town. About a year ago, Josh Arieh’s favorite local game got raided. A-town is also the headquarters for Bluff and Wicked Chops.

Related:
Cops n’ Rounders – 2/14/06

UPDATE: The Macon Telegraph just updated their story, so the one referenced above has changed. The new news item (by the same writer) points out that a former pro wrestler — Disco Inferno — was arrested by Roswell police. And he was also one of the people with the drugs. Here’s a new link to the original story about the judge and the alleged bribe.

And here is a link to a story about charges being pressed against the operators in the first of these two raids.


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  • Karridy

    5k won’t do it. You have to put serious money on the table. Let’s say,… 25k paid out over the next 5 weeks, using that 5k as a down payment. Next week you’ll move with no forwarding address :) THAT’S how you get out for 5k.

  • http://pokerati.com/?author=2 DanM

    Karridy, I think you have a future as a professional briber in Georgia. Seriously, don’t give up on your dreams!

  • http://www.michelelewis.net Fresh Princess

    My dad lives in Marietta and he says the second bust was last night.

  • http://jasonkirk.net/blog Jason

    DI is one of Gavin’s boys. Hung out with him in Tunica this January.

    I read about this bust elsewhere and someone said that the state of Georgia lists running a room as a felony because they license casinos. I don’t believe that’s the case, is it?

  • http://pokerati.com/?author=2 DanM

    I dunno. Seems plausible enough to me.

    So yo, Jason, are you trying to give up the “Spaceman” monicker?

  • http://jasonkirk.net/blog Jason

    If the state licensed casinos, though, why the hell would I drive to Mississippi to play poker when I could go to Georgia instead? Doesn’t seem to ring true to me.

    Re: the name…it’s already stuck. No giving it up. Not that I’d want to anyway…when I introduce myself as Jason, people just nod and smile. When I’m introduced by someone else as Spaceman, people get excited. Strange, and makes no sense to me, but that’s nearly everything.

  • http://www.michelelewis.net Fresh Princess

    Maybe they think you were the first on the moon??

    Dan – that comment was a joke.

  • http://pokerati.com/?author=2 DanM

    Where’d that delete button go? I know it’s around here somewhere …

  • http://jasonkirk.net/blog Jason

    If you had a delete button, we might never see a post from you.

    I keed! I keed!

  • http://www.michelelewis.net Fresh Princess

    I’ve never been a delete button but I’ve played one on t.v.

    and it’s… I’m just keeeeding.

  • Karridy

    Easy on the wine, Michele.

  • http://www.michelelewis.net Fresh Princess

    Hey smartass, it was an inside joke for Dan. BTW – I don’t drink!

  • Bundas

    Wow Karridy !!
    Are you just trying piss everyone off today !!

  • http://pokerati.com/?author=2 DanM

    Kids, kids … um, we are professionals here? Who needs a time-out?

  • http://www.michelelewis.net Fresh Princess

    No mediation is necessary, but I am wondering why Karridy was up past midnight? Were you sitting in Dan’s closet?

  • http://jasonkirk.net/blog Jason

    Professionals?? Since when?