By Melanie Patterson

The North Jefferson News



Illegal gambling busts in northern Jefferson County are continuing.

In a 10-day seizure starting May 21, the Kimberly Police Department removed 186 illegal gambling machines from a leased building at 8705 U.S. Hwy. 31, across from Welch’s Muffler Automotive and Truck Repair.

The machines, parts and other equipment found were valued at $1 million.

That bust followed one in Morris on May 20 when Morris Police Chief Brian Cochran pulled over a U-Haul truck for a traffic violation. Upon investigation, he discovered that the truck contained at least 35 illegal gambling machines.

Arrests are still pending in the Morris case.

Kimberly Police Department Investigator Sgt. Bill Isbell said he discovered the illegal machines in Kimberly after someone who was leasing the building asked town officials about turning on the water at the building.

That aroused suspicion because there was no business license associated with the person or the building.

Isbell said he received permission to enter the building, and was shocked at what he saw.

“When I walked in, I was floored,” said Isbell. Dozens of machines, parts and equipment were packed into the building.

He contacted Kimberly Police Chief Mike Melvin, who in turn called the Jefferson County district attorney’s office.

Isbell said that experts with the district attorney’s office confirmed that the machines and parts were illegal, and were worth $1 million.

Isbell said the machines had been in the building for about two weeks. He said the Kimberly operation was used to refurbish machines with new faces, buttons and internal parts before being shipped out to unknown locations.

It took the department 10 days to inventory and move the machines to an undisclosed, secure location.

No arrests have been made in connection with the case.