4 arrested at Arkansas fair on gambling allegations

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PINE BLUFF — The operator of a "Midway Monopoly" booth at a southeast Arkansas fair has been arrested on suspicion of running a gambling house along with three workers.

Jefferson County sheriff's investigators raided the booth Thursday on the midway at the Southeast Arkansas Livestock Show, Rodeo and Fair, and arrested the four suspects.

Charles Chenowith, 57, and Frank Dell, 36, both of Louisiana, Robert Bren, 40, of Maryland and Stanley Ray, 58, of Alabama were taken into custody on probable cause of operating a gambling house and possession of a gambling device.

Circuit Judge Rob Wyatt Jr. released the four men Friday, pending further investigation.

Sheriff's Capt. John McNeil said deputies would present their findings to prosecutors for them to file formal charges.

Authorities said they also searched the booth and seized about $25,000, mostly in cash, along with a 42-inch flat screen television, several Nintendo Wii games, PlayStation 3 games, CD players, and an ATM machine that was attached to the booth.

According to an affidavit from investigators Todd Davis and Mickey Buffkin, an undercover police officer equipped with an audio/video device approached the booth and began to play a "Midway Monopoly" game, using money provided by the prosecutors office.

All four suspects had a game board in front of them and allowed customers to reach inside the booth with a net to get a ping pong ball with a number on it. The balls were in the center of the booth and were blown into the air by an air pump.

According to the affidavit, the undercover officer placed a $20 bet and received a ball called 2 to 1. The officer said he received $40 from a worker, and played the booth several times and received money after winning on different plays.

In the search, investigators reported, they found an ice chest containing $10,500 in cash. Chenowith also was carrying about $10,000 in cash when he was arrested, the affidavit said.

After his arrest, Chenowith told the officers he was "just a little fish and did not know why he was targeted by investigators." Bren said he had worked with Chenowith for only a short time and did not know they were breaking any laws.

For more information see Sunday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.