9 Arrested In Anson County For Operating Illegal Gambling Machines

November 5, 2018

Justin Pryor,

WADESBORO, NC — Authorities arrested nine suspects on Monday accused of owning and operating illegal gambling machines in Anson County.

North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents raided several locations where the machines were reportedly being used. The following arrests have been made:

Wadesboro Discount Grocery, 702 Salisbury St., Wadesboro
- Shondrell Antwanette Easterling, 38, of Wadesboro – 8 counts of violating state gambling laws
Quick Shop, U.S. 52, Wadesboro
- Manu Kumar Patel,53, of Wadesboro – 7 counts
- Lisa Rivers Taylor, 49, of Morven – 6 counts
C.Q. Mart, 1200 U.S. 74, Wadesboro
- Alaa Nabil Kobercy, 29, of Indian Trail
- Mohamad Elbaba, 27, of Wadesboro
Mikes Food Mart, 1265 US 74, Wadesboro
- Shemetra Lashay Melton, 34, of Morven
- Lisa Danielle Thomas, 51, of Wadesboro
Stop n Shop, 702 Salisbury St., Wadesboro
- Kidanne-Mariam Yosief, 31, of Monroe
- Ogbamari Gebrezghiabher-Yousef, 33, of Charlotte

The raids were part of a joint operation between the Wadesboro Police Department and the ALE. Officials say gaming machines, money and documents were also seized.

Illegal gambling bust in Wadesboro. Nine arrested at four different locations. Details at 10 @WCCBCharlotte pic.twitter.com/oHljD6LoU6

— courtney francisco (@cjfranciscowccb) November 6, 2018

“Gambling can be addictive and destructive. It’s caused bankruptcies, divorces and suicides,” said Chris Poole, ALE’s Special Agent in Charge of the Gaming Section. “State legislators outlawed gaming machines to protect vulnerable citizens, and ALE is the lead agency in enforcing these laws.”