The Calhoun-Cleburne Drug & Violent Crimes Task Force confiscated these gambling machines from a residence at 70 Roll Tide Road near Wellborn. (Submitted Photo.)
Police said Timothy Cunningham, 46, was operating a house near Wellborn, located at 70 Roll Tide Road, as a gambling establishment.
Police found sixteen working slot machines and several card tables when they arrived with a search warrant after an ongoing investigation of the operation.
“The place was open for business when we arrived, there were five or six patrons gambling.” said Agent Chuck Battles.
Police arrested Cunningham at the scene. He claims he does not own the gambling machines, drug task force officials said. He told police that he and his mother, Mary Elizabeth Freeman, made a deal with another gambling ring in Georgia.
Capt. Chris Roberson of the Drug Task Force said his agency will obtain a warrant for Freeman’s arrest sometime today.
Cunningham set up their machines in his home and agreed to split the profits, Battles said.
Cunningham would hand out business cards to potential patrons with the lure of “Video Games at the Guest House.” He would also give them a $5 credit towards one of the machines, police said. Cunningham admitted to officers that “on a good night” he would take home around $2,000.
When police seized the gambling machines, they said, it took them two separate trips to remove them with a moving truck. Agent Battles estimated that the gambling operation had been running for about a year.
Agents from the Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board aided in the arrest, Roberson said.
Cunningham is charged with three misdemeanors: possession of gambling devices, promoting gambling, and possession of gambling records. He will likely pay several hundred dollars in fines, police said.
The drug task force are still investigating the possibility of a larger gambling ring.
Staff Writer Rachael Griffin: 256-235-3562. On Twitter @RGriffin_Star.
