Three sentenced for illegal gambling operation in Michigan

Three people have been sentenced for their role in running Spin City, an illegal gambling operation, in Flint Township Michigan.

Charges were filed against the three by the Michigan Department of Attorney General in 2019, after investigators from the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) looked into a report made by Flint Township Police.

Anthony Sutton of Wilmington NC pleaded guilty to a gambling operations felony charge. He was sentenced to one year of probation and 100 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $1,058 in costs.

When a search warrant was issued on 27 February 2019, Sutton forfeited around $12,500 in cash and had 67 computers and games confiscated by Flint Township Police Department.

Kara Schilling of Flint pleaded guilty to maintaining a gambling house for gain – a misdemeanour charge – and was sentenced to one year of probation, 50 hours community service and was ordered to pay $1,058 in costs.

Marjorie Brown, also of Flint, pleaded guilty to attempting to maintain a gambling house for gain. She was sentenced to six months of probation, 100 hours of community service and was ordered to pay $985 in costs.

All three were also sentenced to one day in jail, and received credit for time served. They will also be subject to a random drug test during their probation periods.

“The Michigan Gaming Control Board appreciates the support from the Attorney General’s office and police agencies across Michigan in helping to eliminate illegal gambling locations, which target low-income neighborhoods, lack player protections and can lead to other more serious crimes,” said Henry Williams, MGCB executive director. “These types of illegal gambling locations also deprive K-12 schools of tax funding, which the state charges on legal, regulated gambling.”