Multi-agency raids on five 8-liner parlors in Wilson County were just the beginning as investigators try to determine if there are larger ties to organized crime.
The Saturday night raids netted seven arrests, about $84,000 in cash, four vehicles and 227 motherboards -- the brain of 8-liner gambling machines. But investigators say they aren't finished.
At least two more arrests are expected. The clerks at a convenience store raided by law enforcement were unable to leave at that point. Wilson County Sheriff Joe Tackitt said the clerks were supposed to turn themselves in Monday. If not, warrants would be issued for their arrest.
The 81st District Attorney's Office seized five bank accounts Monday worth about $16,000 suspected of being tied to some of the game rooms.
"We're trying to determine if there's organized crime going on here," DA Rene Pena said. "And if so, addressing that appropriately under the law."
Pena said there's data to suggest many game rooms are operated at a larger level, maybe by organized crime. Is that the case in Wilson County?
"No comment at this point," Pena said. "The investigation is still ongoing."
Three of the seven people arrested Saturday got felony charges for "engaging in organized criminal activity," though, and prosecutors said more of those charges should come down later this week.
"I think it's important for people to understand that organized crime is victimizing our folks in our community, and because of that we need to identify those individuals that are the owners, that are the managers, that are the agents and bring justice to them," Pena said.
Law enforcement had to hit all five places at the same time Saturday so that an errant text or social media post didn't ruin the element of surprise.
Right now, all the game rooms Tackitt knows about in Wilson County are shut down.
"We hope they don't stay, because if they come back in, we're going to be on them," he said.
While all of the game rooms were on a 13-mile stretch of highway, the people arrested Saturday were not. Only one man had a Wilson County address, and two were from Houston. Two others were from California.