MGCB - Attorney General Mike Cox announces: Crack down on illegal casino gaming in Michigan

Skip Navigation

Michigan.gov, Official Portal for the State of Michigan

Michigan.gov Home

MGCB Home | Sitemap | FAQ | Contact MGCB

Printer Friendly Text Only Version

Text Version

Share this link:

Attorney General Mike Cox announces: Crack down on illegal casino gaming in Michigan

Contact: Eric Bush (517) 241-0136
Agency: Gaming Control Board

Four bars are sited for operating an illegal casino; 12 owners and employees to be charged for violating state gaming laws.

June 17, 2009

LANSING- Attorney General Mike Cox today announced charges against 12 owners and employees of four bars in the Flint area for their roles in operating and participating in illegal casinos. The arrests are part of a crackdown by the Michigan State Police, the Michigan Gaming Control Board, and the Attorney General's office.

"These defendants brazenly flaunted state law by essentially operating casinos in these bars," said Cox. "Gaming in Michigan is strictly regulated and this is a clear violation of state law."

The locations are alleged to have been operating illegal poker-machines, which allowed patrons to gamble as if they were in a licensed casino. An investigation revealed that the defendants paid cash winnings to patrons while taking measures to evade detection by law enforcement.

Those charged include:

Remington's Food & Spirits

· Dean Carter, co-owner, charged with one count of running an illegal gambling operation, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and/or a 100,000 fine.

· Tonia Fults, employee, charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a one year misdemeanor or 1,000 fine.

· Amber Lynn Bennett, employee, charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a one year misdemeanor or 1,000 fine.

· Gabriella Juliene Young, employee, charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a one year misdemeanor or 1,000 fine.

Autumn Lounge

· Lambros Saites, owner, charged with one count of running an illegal gambling operation, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and/or 100,000 fine.

· Margaret Baker, employee, charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a one year misdemeanor or 1,000 fine.

· Lisa Blackledge, employee, charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a one year misdemeanor or 1,000 fine.

· Madonna Nichols, employee, charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a one year misdemeanor or 1,000 fine.

Zoo Bar

· Laurie Fletcher, owner, charged with one count of running an illegal gambling operation, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and/or 100,000 fine.

· Robert Hall, employee, charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a one year misdemeanor or 1,000 fine.

Little Country

· Paul Battiste, owner, charged with one count of running an illegal gambling operation, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and/or 100,000 fine.

· Danielle Wolfe, employee, charged with one count of keeping a gambling house, a one year misdemeanor or 1,000 fine.

Pretrial hearings for Battiste and Fletcher are scheduled for Friday, June 19. Battiste is scheduled to appear at 67th District Court in front of the Judge Christopher R. Odette. Fletcher is scheduled to appear at 68th District Court in front of Judge Tracy Coller-Nix.

All of the defendants have been arraigned and pretrial hearings are being scheduled. The Attorney General's office and Michigan State Police anticipate announcing additional arrests in the coming weeks.

"I would like to thank the Michigan State Police for their assistance and cooperation in this investigation in order to shut down these illegal gambling operations," stated Cox.

A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and, unless proven guilty in a court of law.


	Related Content
•	Detroit Casino revenues were up for October by 3.1% over October 2009. Revenues were also up by 3.9% in comparison to September.
•	Detroit Casino revenues were up for September by 5.6% over September 2009. However, revenues were down by 4.9% in comparison to August.
•	Detroit Casino revenues were up by for August 1.1% over August 2009. However revenues were down by 4.9% compared to July.
•	Detroit Casino 2010 revenues up a quarter percent for June and up 3 percent for July in comparison to 2009 - MGM Grand Detroit lead the way both months.
•	MGCB Approves Greektown L.L.C. application for Transfer of Interest in Greektown Casino, L.L.C. Which Allows For New Ownership of Greektown Casino.
•	Detroit Casino Revenues Down Less Than 1% for May in Comparison to the Same Month Last Year - MGM Grand Revenues up by 3.4%
•	Detroit Casino Revenues Up for April by 7% in Comparison to the Same Month Last Year - MGM Grand and Greektown Revenues up 12.1% and 11.9%, respectively.
•	Detroit Casino Revenues Up for March by 6% in Comparison to the Same Month Last Year - MGM Grand and Greektown Revenues up 8.5% and 11.7%, respectively.
•	Rick Kalm in his Executive Director Report to the Board yesterday advised that Detroit casino revenues were actually up by 2.4 percent for the three month period ending February 2010.
•	Detroit Casino Revenues Down for February by 1.7 Percent in Comparison to the Same Month Last Year - Greektown Revenues up 8.4%
•	Members of the Michigan State Police (MSP) and Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) executed multiple search warrants today at three private residences in Southeast Michigan, as part of an ongoing ...
•	Mr. Jim Plakas, Ex Garden City Mayor appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan Gaming Control Board
•	Detroit Casinos Revenues Up for January by 5.32 Percent in Comparison to the Same Month Last Year
•	Detroit Casinos Revenues Up for December by 5.1 Percent in Comparison to the Same Month Last Year
•	Detroit Casinos Revenues Up for November by .62% compared to the same month last year. Greektown Revenues were up 21% compared to same month last year.
•	Detroit Casinos Revenues Down for October by 1% compared to the same month last year. Greektown Revenues up 18.42% compared to last month.
•	Special Announcement of newly implemented 1-800 line to report illegal or suspicious gambling. Detroit Casinos Revenues Down for September by 2.4% compared to the same month last year. Greektown Revenues ...
•	Detroit Casinos Revenues Down for August by 5.4% compared to the same month last year. Greektown revenues show an increase.
•	Detroit Casinos Revenues Down for July by less than 1/4% compared to the same month last year. Greektown revenues show an increase.
•	Detroit Casinos Revenues Down for June by less than 1/2% compared to the same month last year. Greektown revenues show an increase.