Athens Review, Athens, Texas

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March 31, 2011

Six illegal gambling locations raided

Henderson County authorities make arrests, seize gaming equipment and cash

Rich Flowers The Athens Review

ATHENS — Henderson County authorities conducted simultaneous searches at six illegal gambling establishments Thursday, making multiple arrests, seizing gaming equipment and cash.

Six individuals were booked into the Henderson County Jail during the sweep, including:

• Thomas McGee Giddens, 54, charged with gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place and possession of gambling paraphernalia and devices. All of the charges are Class A misdemeanors.

• Leslie Juanama Hipp, 54, charged with possession of a controlled substance (one to four grams), gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place and possession of a gambling device/equipment/ paraphernalia and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. The gambling charges are Class A misdemeanors, while the drug and firearms charges are third degree felonies.

• Kari Fielding, 41, charged with gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place and possession of a gambling device/equipment or paraphernalia. All are Class A misdemeanors.

• John George Desanto, 49, Michelle Denise Deupree, 44, and Gary Russell Hanson, 49, were each charged with engaging in organized criminal activity, a third degree felony.

None of the suspects had been arraigned as of Thursday afternoon.

HCSO reports said 261 mother boards and hard drives were seized from 8-liner machines at establishments on County Road 4508, State Highway 274, State Highway 198 and County Road 2813. Search warrants were also served at establishments on U.S. Highway 175 and State Highway 198.

Law enforcement participating in the raid included officers from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney Scott McKee’s Office, County Attorney Clint Davis’ Office, the Henderson County IT Department, Gun Barrel City Police Department, Log Cabin Police Department, Athens Police Department and Caney City Police Department.

Also taking part in serving the warrants were Texas Ranger Michael Adcock, Precinct 3 Constable David Grubbs, Precinct 5 Constable Brad Miers and Precinct 6 Constable Mike Warren.

County IT Director Betty Spencer said her department assisted because laptops  were involved at one of the locations, and authorities wanted assistance in removing the hard drives without doing unnessesary damage to the computers.

The investigations into the establishments are ongoing, with a possible arrest at a later date, Sheriff Ray Nutt said.

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