Bingo raids seize 300 machines, $175,000

Charities targeted; 2 people arrested and 3rd is sought

TRIANA - Sheriff's deputies arrested two people and are looking for a third after a late-night raid on two bingo halls here Saturday.

Triana VFW Charity Bingo on Wall Triana Highway and Triana Charity Bingo, at the Triana Industries facility on Sixth Street, were raided just before 11 p.m. Saturday. Nearly $175,000 in cash and more than 300 electronic bingo machines were seized.

Bernard Gomez, 49, and Kim Bradley, 36, were taken to the Madison County metro jail on misdemeanor charges of possession of a gambling device and promoting gambling, said sheriff's Sgt. Mike Salomonsky.

Gomez was also charged with two additional counts of the same charges on warrants stemming from a similar investigation last November. They were both released on bond Sunday.

Salomonsky said investigators were not able to locate a third person - John Young, whose age was unavailable. He is wanted on charges of promoting gambling and possession of a gambling device from the Sunday raid and a raid last November. Young is from Massachusetts and has an address listing for Owens Cross Roads, Salomonsky said.

Deputies were ready at both sites and entered them simultaneously at 10:42 p.m. Saturday, Salomonsky said.

Salomonsky said Gomez and Bradley are accused of operating the 511 Sixth St. bingo hall where deputies seized 74 electronic gaming machines and $16,000 in cash. There were between 25 and 50 people playing the machines when deputies shut it down.

The preliminary investigation shows that the money raised at that operation went to VFW organizations in the state of Texas, Salomonsky said.

Young is accused of operating the bingo house at 1168 Wall Triana, where investigators removed 244 machines and seized $157,015 in cash. There were about 200 people playing the machines there.

Written by Wendy Reeves

www.al.com