One of My Old Buds

On 1/09/07, Agents with the Multi Agency Narcotics Squad, The Gang Task Force, The Hall County Sheriff's Office Patrol and Criminal Investigations Division, and the ATF conducted a raid on a gambling operation in Hall County, Georgia. The Investigation was initiated following multiple complaints from citizens regarding a residence located in the 4200 block of Winder Highway. Agents received additional; information from several cooperating sources and were able to confirm through their own surveillances a large number of vehicles parked at the residence on Tuesdays and Sunday nights. Agents arrived around 11:00 p.m., on Tuesday, January 09, 2007, with a search warrant for the premises. Inside, Agents located each room set up with poker playing tables, a food buffet, snacks, tobacco and alcoholic beverages for sale, as well as at least 26 individuals, 24 of whom were charged with commercial gambling, gambling and criminal attempt to gamble. Agents seized two firearms, two personal computers, four large flat screen televisions, numerous poker playing apparatus such as playing cards, tables, chips and an electric Currency counter. Additionally Agents Seized just under $13,000.00 in US Currency from players and dealers at the residence. In addition to the 24 persons arrested, Agents expect more arrests to stem from this investigation. All individuals arrested were booked in at the Hall County Detention Center

From the Gainesville Times ($100 to just walk in the door???? and $10.00 per hole to play Tiger Woods...they are just making up shit now!):

Twice each week since November, the modest brick house on the hill in South Hall turned into a buzzing hub of high-stakes gambling, authorities say.

Visitors paid $100 just to walk in the door of the home at 4215 Winder Highway, according to law enforcement officials.

Once inside with their $100 in betting chips, the gamblers tried their luck in the Texas Hold 'Em rooms, or wagered $10 per hole of Tiger Woods Golf, a video game played on big-screen plasma TVs, authorities said.

If they were hungry, they enjoyed a buffet of baked ham, macaroni and cheese and rolls. Complimentary beer, liquor and cigars also were on hand.

"This is probably in my experience the most organized and sophisticated gambling operation I've encountered," said Lt. Scott Ware, commander of the Hall County Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad that led the raid on the house at 11 p.m. Tuesday.

More than 20 sheriff's deputies, police and agents with the federal bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms interrupted what was described as a "slow night" in the gambling house, Ware said.

The suspected leader of the operation, 41-year-old Stephen Joseph Cersosimo, told authorities as much, according to Ware.

"By his own admission, we probably would have gotten double on another night," Ware said.

Nonetheless, 24 people were arrested and more than $13,000 in cash seized. Most were charged with misdemeanor gambling, though the seven suspected organizers face felony charges of commercial gambling.

Ware said authorities acted on tips from neighbors that, starting about 8 p.m. on Sunday and Tuesday nights, the yard of the rental house "was turned into a parking lot."

One neighbor who asked that his name not be used, said the alleged gamblers weren't especially loud, but the constant traffic late into the night and potential danger surrounding the scene bothered him.

"To me, I don't have a problem with three or four friends getting together to play poker," he said. "That's their business.

"But when you get all those people over there, you don't what kind of folks they are. You don't know if someone might get ticked off and start shooting some night. It's a place that's looking for trouble."

Authorities seized two firearms during the raid, including a handgun in one person's pocket, but encountered no resistance, Ware said.

No illegal drugs were found and most of the gamblers were drinking Gatorade or water, not alcohol, Ware said.

A video surveillance system was set up outside the home, possibly to warn of approaching police, authorities said.

But with 20 officers knocking at the door with a search warrant in hand, there wasn't much that could be done to hide the activities, Ware said. "You can't flush poker tables."

Ware said the owner of the property, whom he declined to name, did not appear to have knowledge of the activities.

It was the second large-scale gambling raid in Hall County in the past 12 months.

In May, law enforcement officials raided an illegal horse racing track off Three Bridges Road near Gillsville.

Some 200 spectators were there, with bets reportedly reaching as high as $200 per race. Authorities seized $60,000 in that raid.

Contact: sgurr@gainesvilletimes.com, (770) 718-3428

Originally published Thursday, January 11, 2007