Authorities search Goose Creek house, arrest owner on gambling charges

Two police agencies searched a Goose Creek house Tuesday night, and the home’s co-owner was arrested the same evening on charges of illegal gambling.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Goose Creek Police Department executed the search warrant around 5:20 p.m. at 115 Deerfield Drive in the city’s Crowfield Plantation community.

Goose Creek police Capt. John Grainger said the home was unoccupied at the time.

Property records identify the owners of the 4,424-square-foot house, which was last valued at $296,000, as Hon and Lisa Tang. They bought the home in 1993, according to the records.

Lisa Tang was arrested Tuesday night on three counts of keeping of gaming machines and one count of unlawful betting. The 60-year-old woman does not have a previous arrest history, according to the State Law Enforcement Division.

Affidavits stated that Tang operated a gambling business at Lt Cafe at 9581 Highway 78 in Ladson.

During a search of the building Tuesday, deputies reported finding 30 computers used for video gambling. They allowed players to get cash payouts after winning credits in games such as Keno.

Authorities issued state citations to four individuals at LT Cafe for unlawful betting and released them on the scene, Brady said.

Deputies gathered the information from a confidential informant during a surveillance operation, the affidavits stated.

During a hearing this morning, Magistrate Linda Lombard approved Tang’s release on personal recognizance. She’s expected to leave the jail this afternoon.

The Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation at the home, which is in Berkeley County.

Check back with postandcourier.com for updates on this story as more details become available.

Reach Andrew Knapp at 937-5414 or twitter.com/offlede.