May 31, 2017
By Curtis Heyen
TEXARKANA, TX (KSLA) –
Three people face charges after authorities raided an alleged illegal gambling house in Texarkana, Texas.
Police said it happened Wednesday afternoon in the 2400 block of Texas Boulevard.
A search turned up several eight-liner machines reportedly being used for illegal purposes, authorities said.
Detectives reportedly seized the machines’ motherboards and an undisclosed amount of cash.
Arrested was 44-year-old Jeffrey Todd Spraggins, of Wake Village, Texas, whom detectives think owns the business. He is charged with one count each of keeping a gambling place, possession of a gambling device and promoting gambling.
The man authorities say managed the place – 69-year-old Paul Dean Holmes, of Foreman, Ark. – faces one count each of possession of a gambling device and promoting gambling.
And 42-year-old Melissa Ellajewell Nash, of Texarkana, Texas, was arrested on a gambling charge.
All three are being held in Bi-State Jail.
Residents’ complaints alerted authorities to the business last week.
Undercover officers then paid to play games of chance on eight-liner machines and reportedly saw Spraggins paying patrons in cash when they won.
Detectives think the business had been in operation for about a month.
