Reggie Kyle

Officers and investigators in east Alabama spent hours Tuesday raiding different locations in an effort to crack down on illegal gambling. Sgt. Jacob Entrekin with the Gadsden Police Street Crime Unit says if you’re thinking about coming to Gadsden to operate illegally, his unit will be waiting for you

“They’re non-taxed money that are collected by these individuals that are running these operations.”

The Gadsden Police Street Crimes Unit breached the door of multiple illegal gambling operations. The department executed ‘Operation Jackpot’ in an effort to rid the city of illegal gambling.

“The Street Crimes Unit received numerous complaints coming in regards to possibility of illegal gambling activity at several locations throughout the city, so over the course of the past several months we have conducted an investigation into these facilities which led to multiple search warrants being obtained,” said Sgt. Entrekin.

Sgt. Entrekin says the money that is gained from these gaming operations is non-taxed and that’s illegal, only benefitting the people who are in charge of these places.

“We’re on location on East Broad Street at an establishment known as the Plumbers Pub. Here we recovered exactly 12 gambling machines. Those have been in operation for quite some time we believe,” said Sgt. Dusty Ford.

Operation Jackpot is part of Mayor Craig Ford’s plan to clean up the city. Sgt. Entrekin says they might not of gotten everything they were looking for Tuesday, but their message is loud and clear.

“Go ahead and pack up, take your stuff somewhere else because it’s not welcomed here. If you continue to stay in our town we will be coming to pay you a visit, said Sgt. Entrekin.”

Operation Jackpot recovered 88 machines and $20,000 in cash.

Sgt. Entrekin says his unit will not rest until the job is complete.