TEXARKANA -- Three women, two of whom are in their 70s, have been formally charged by prosecutors in Miller County with keeping a gambling house.
Helen Swint, 77; Martha George, 73; and Betty Swint, 51, were arrested after a May 1 raid of Helen Swint's home in the 5200 block of Blackman Ferry Road in Texarkana.
Last week, each woman was formally charged with keeping a gambling house. The felony offense is punishable by a fine up to $10,000 and up to six years in prison.
"We had received several complaints that an illegal gaming operation was taking place inside a residence," Prosecuting Attorney Stephanie Black said.
"While owning a gaming machine is not illegal, using gaming machines to operate a gambling house or place where gambling is carried on is illegal. The law applies to everyone, regardless of their age."
Texarkana police and the Miller County sheriff's office began investigating the alleged gambling operation in January, according to a search warrant affidavit and other court documents. Investigators used a confidential source to document cash payouts to players of gambling machines, known commonly as eight-liners, in Helen Swint's home.
Five eight-liner machines, $319 in cash, documents, receipt books and a laptop computer were seized from Helen Swint's house in May. A sign indicating that the drinks inside a small refrigerator were complimentary and a tip jar were also collected as evidence.
All three women are free on bonds of $8,000.
Metro on 08/04/2015