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Poker Raids in Atlanta

by , Apr 11, 2007 | 3:47 pm

Comments (16)

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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16 Comments to “Poker Raids in Atlanta”


  1. Karridy     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 3:56pm

    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.


  2. DanM     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 4:04pm

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


  3. Fresh Princess     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 4:17pm

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


  4. Jason     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 4:36pm

    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?


  5. DanM     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 4:38pm

    I dunno. Seems plausible enough to me.

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


  6. Jason     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 5:00pm

    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.


  7. Fresh Princess     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 6:16pm

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

    Dan – that comment was a joke.


  8. DanM     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 6:29pm

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


  9. Jason     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 7:36pm

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

    I keed! I keed!


  10. Fresh Princess     says:
    April 11th, 2007 at 10:15pm

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

    and it’s… I’m just keeeeding.


  11. Karridy     says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 12:34am

    Easy on the wine, Michele.


  12. Fresh Princess     says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 10:12am

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


  13. Bundas     says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 10:35am

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


  14. DanM     says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 1:38pm

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


  15. Fresh Princess     says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 1:55pm

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


  16. Jason     says:
    April 12th, 2007 at 8:10pm

    Professionals?? Since when?