Jacksonville, ARK — The Jacksonville Police Department executed four search warrants Monday morning, targeting illegal gaming operations at multiple locations across the city. Authorities seized a substantial amount of cash, gaming machines, and illegal drugs, while also making several arrests.
According to police, the raids were part of an ongoing effort to shut down unlawful gambling activities in the area. Three business owners were taken into custody, and charges ranging from felony to misdemeanor were filed.
In the first operation, police seized $9,288.23 in cash and other evidence at Max’s Convenience Store/Phillips 66 located at 713 South Street. Owner Venkata Melapu was arrested and charged with felony keeping a gaming house and misdemeanor keeping a gaming device. Authorities did not disclose the exact number of gaming machines seized from the location.
Melapu’s arrest underscores the city’s ongoing crackdown on illegal gambling, which authorities say has been an increasing issue in the area.
At Jacksonville Stop and Shop, located at 1116 South First Street, a second raid led to the seizure of $4,098.14 in cash, two firearms, and two ounces of marijuana. Ahmed Ali, the store’s owner, was arrested on multiple charges. These include felony simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, felony use of another person’s property to facilitate certain crimes, felony possession with intent to deliver, and felony keeping a gaming house, along with a misdemeanor charge for keeping a gaming device.
Additionally, because the store was located within 1,000 feet of a church and daycare, authorities indicated that penalty enhancements would apply, making the charges more severe.
The final two raids occurred at AJ Mart, which operates two locations in Jacksonville, one at 1521 South First Street and the other at 3701 North First Street. However, police were unable to seize the gaming machines they expected to find, as the machines had been moved prior to the execution of the search warrant.
Despite the absence of the gaming machines, Jagjit Singh, the owner of AJ Mart, was arrested and is facing felony charges for keeping a gaming house and a misdemeanor charge for keeping a gaming device.
The Jacksonville Police Department’s actions are part of a broader initiative to curb illegal gambling and associated criminal activity within the city. Local authorities have made it clear that they will continue to target businesses involved in illegal gaming, as part of efforts to improve safety and reduce crime in the community.
The raids and arrests highlight the city’s commitment to addressing illegal gambling, a growing concern in many Arkansas communities. Police are encouraging the public to report any suspicious activity related to unlawful gambling operations.
As of now, all three individuals are facing serious criminal charges and remain in custody pending further legal proceedings. Authorities continue to investigate the scale of the illegal gambling network in Jacksonville and say that more arrests may follow.