Some implicated in Hanahan poker raid also charged in Mt. P.
By Glenn Smith
The Post and Courier
Bob Chimento
Bob Chimento has been dealt this hand before.
In 2006, Chimento was playing poker at a Mount Pleasant home when police stormed through the door and charged him and 23 others with illegal gambling.
Fast forward two years to another night and another home — with the same result.
Cards, chips, multiple arrests. Once again, Chimento's name is in the pot.
And he's not alone. Several people implicated this week in a sophisticated Lowcountry gambling operation also were charged in the infamous Mount Pleasant raid that drew national attention and reinvigorated a debate over the fairness of South Carolina's anti-gaming laws, authorities said.
The Post and Courier
Martin Orlando Reyes' Hanahan home (pictured) was the focus of a raid Friday that resulted in 191 warrants charging 65 people.
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Investigators have obtained 191 warrants to charge 65 people in connection with the 10-month investigation into a high-stakes poker circuit run from four area locations. The probe culminated with a raid Friday at Martin Orlando Reyes' Hanahan home, where cards, chips, poker tables and $40,000 were seized.
Chimento said he did not frequent the Hanahan home; the stakes were out of his price range. But he has heard there is an outstanding warrant for his arrest in connection with some other facet of the gambling investigation, he said.
Chimento is among five of the Mount Pleasant players still awaiting trial in the 2006 case. Eighteen of the 24 arrested challenged the charges, some have since pleaded guilty.
Chimento doesn't seem particularly cowed by the prospect of facing new charges. In fact, he wants his day in court on this issue. He hopes it will galvanize support for changing the 200-year-old state law that bars card and dice games.
"We as individuals want the right to play cards," he said. "This is strictly for fun. I'm just a guy who wants to play cards in his home and enjoy myself without being arrested."
Chimento's statements were the latest volley in an ongoing public relations battle between the card players and the investigators pressing charges against them.
Reader poll
Do you think poker should be legalized in South Carolina?
- yes 86% 2273 votes
- no 13% 367 votes
2640 total votes.
In media interviews, Reyes, his wife and others have painted an image of a friendly group of card enthusiasts just trying to enjoy a harmless hobby in the privacy of their homes. Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon and investigators have countered with descriptions of a well-heeled and organized gambling operation where paid dealers worked the tables and large sums of money routinely changed hands.
Half of those implicated in the Hanahan raid have yet to set foot in court or be served with warrants, but that hasn't stopped the two sides from jockeying for public favor through print, Internet and the airwaves.
A Charleston police officer, a veteran prosecutor, a school teacher and a host of other professionals have been implicated in the case. And the taint has touched some unintended targets as well.
George Gardner, who runs a Summerville accounting business, said he has lost some customers after they mistakenly assumed he was the same George Gardner charged in the gambling probe. He is not. "I don't even gamble," he said.
State Rep. Wallace Scarborough, R-James Island, said the debate has breathed new life into his proposal to loosen state law to allow casual poker games and church raffles — as well as to clarify that games such as Monopoly and Yahtzee are legal. The bill had been stuck in a legislative subcommittee for months, but he received word Tuesday that the measure will finally get a hearing next week.
"People are outraged by what is going on in Charleston," he said. "This is an outdated law. It needs to be fixed."
Chimento said the law, as it is currently written, is unconstitutional and leads to selective enforcement against aficionados of poker, which he maintains is a noble game of skill. "We are serious players, poker enthusiasts, and it's not wrong to be that way."
While the law might not change, the case already has brought about some retooling of the Sheriff's Office policies concerning the use of ski masks to protect the identities of officers during raids and other operations.
Cannon first expressed concern about the practice after a December raid at a Hanahan restaurant to seize video gambling machines. Some customers said they were frightened because they mistook the officers for robbers. Some card players at Reyes' house had similar complaints.
The Sheriff's Office also took some jabs on talk radio for having masked investigators who resembled ninjas on hand to process poker suspects who surrendered at the county jail on Monday. One attorney dubbed it a "costume party."
Sheriff's Maj. John Clark said undercover officers have real concerns about protecting their identities, particularly if that might compromise ongoing cases. But in poker raids and similar vice operations, the Sheriff's Office will try to substitute uniformed deputies for those officers to avoid using the masks and creating confusion, he said.
Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.
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BillMan (anonymous) says...
You can't mess with Bob Chimento... You can't mess with Bob Chimento... Woof Woof...
April 9, 2008 at 12:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
Mr. Chimento,
I am outraged by the crimes I hear about on the news every night, rapes, robberies, murders... and outraged that law enforcement let these crimes happen while wasting ten months busting up your card game...
April 9, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
chucktonian (anonymous) says...
the law is stupid and the cops are out of line
--but--
this guy is a moron. you'd think he'd learn. apparently not. gambling addict.
April 9, 2008 at 1:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pithy (anonymous) says...
Whether stupid or not - the law is the law. Does it need to be looked at and changed? Probably. But why are so many quick to criticize the officers that have sworn to uphold these laws? They don't have the luxury of enforcing only those that they agree with.
April 9, 2008 at 1:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
: "[T]hat hasn't stopped the -- two sides -- from jockeying for public favor through print, Internet and the airwaves."
Law enforcement is not obligated or even allowed to jockey for public favor. Whether or not individuals personally approve of a particular LEO is irrelevant to this issue.
The only jockeys on this track are the persons charged, their attorney's and interested legislators. None of which will gain any "favor" with the judiciary when this issue comes to trial.
The legislature is obligated to produce more than the irrational comments this story has generated if they have any real intent in changing this law.
April 9, 2008 at 5:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
One's 'professional standing' is not mitigation for violating the law. Professional people do not galvanize legitimate support for changing a law by knowingly violating the law and then stirring up a public rabble to come to their aid. And that is what is happening here.
April 9, 2008 at 5:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pirate42 (anonymous) says...
Yes it should state has lottery let bust down the doors state house arrest everyone of them.....
April 9, 2008 at 5:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mogley (anonymous) says...
While the los of life would be tragic I would only feel justified for those if the police had all been shot to death upoun entering the Hanahan home with frickin Iraq police hoods on!! This country has already gone to the dogs sold out and we will all be cleaning homes for India and china, SKI MASKED COPS!!! Jesus help us
April 9, 2008 at 5:56 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Your right "PITHY". And what would have happened had some one lost say $5000 and got really pissed off and shoots someone? Like that has never happened before? Hell half of them had OUTSTANDING WARRANTS. It's not like they were preist! Then the public outcry to the police would be why did you allow this to happen. This neighborhood Mr Reyes lives in is a waterfront affluent place. Houses are in the $600000 range so you think those people would have put up with a pissed off loser shooting someone, NOT.
This guy, Richard Todd and other morons crying foul make me sick. The laws the law and you Mr Reyes broke it, now pay up! Quit your freaking whining! This wasn't your average poker game.
April 9, 2008 at 6:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mogley (anonymous) says...
Oh I have a better idea, send all the cops who want to play ninja games over to Iraq and let them see what happens to hooded cops! Maybe they can play there, if you are legal send real cops the only cops available to make the arrests where all undercover? BS you redneck SOB's are trouble cowboys, I really hope someone blows up the station like its done over there. Be real you are here to PROTECT citizens not harrasss them with your new toys and why because they can pay? Bet you won't try that crap down in the hood, you boys might come out with some holes and certainly no one to pay the bills eh? America shame shame
April 9, 2008 at 6:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Sounds like mogley plays illegal poker. You'd be singing a different tune if you lived in the neighborhood. Poker is an emotional game and a bunch of things could have happened here.
April 9, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mac0cm4 (anonymous) says...
Maybe mogley should contact his local law enforcement agency and ask for a ride along - perhaps they could expose him to some of the elements that they deal with on a daily basis.
I also think that mogley's statement in regards to blowing up the station is entirely out of line.
April 9, 2008 at 6:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
The Problem is manpower.County Council should provide more Officers.The same thing at the jail.Provide the Funding for the officers needed and They wouldn't have to do undercoverwork and SWAT(if that is what it's called) and Processing.
The other problem is the law.This should have been revised or revoked..It has come up time and time again over the years and nothing was done.Whether you legalize gambling or not The wording of this law should have been changed..
Mobley,Why all this Hatred of the police?
April 9, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
Someone has missed the vital point that the police are 'equally entitled' to freedom from 'harassment'-and threats against their lives.
The type of mentality exhibited only supports what I said earlier about the legislature needing more than this type of TRASH to justify changing the law.
April 9, 2008 at 6:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
willx45x (anonymous) says...
This is nothing more than a gross abuse of power on the part of law enforcement. These arrests are a joke, the law needs to be changed and those behind this ridiculous "raid" should be voted or kicked out of office at the earliest opportunity. It disgusts me to think of how many individual liberties Americans have ceded to the government (be it local, state or federal) - it is time to stand up and refuse to live in a police state any longer. It is time to make these autocrats pay for their crimes against the citizens of the Republic and it is time to change laws that empower corrupt law enforcement officials like those in Berkley County to perpetrate crimes. They are the real criminals, not the poker players minding their own business in their own home. It is chilling to realize that the government can send masked criminals inside your home to deprive you of your life, liberty and property when you have done nothing wrong. And don't tell me about the 200-year old law these police-criminals were supposedly enforcing. That law is an anachronism and this sort of selective enforcement is why nobody has any respect for law enforcement in this day and age. I trust the hoods on Rivers Ave. more than I trust the police.
April 9, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
prettywoman2457 (anonymous) says...
Congrats moonpie....you said it all!!
April 9, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ltgrunt (anonymous) says...
You're blowing this grossly out of proportion by claiming that the police are abusing power or violating civil liberties by enforcing a justified law. The US isn't a police state, even with the unconstitional actions of our current commander-in-chief; there are much better examples of police states elsewhere in the world, you really don't have to exaggerate our local current events just to talk about injustice. Obscuring their identities is a necessity for the safety of undercover officers and the proper handling of their assignments - the masks aren't there to scare people, they are there to protect the officers who put their lives at risk to provide safety and stability to citizens in their own homes. Additionally, there is nothing particularly unjust about a law prohibiting gambling, and the mechanics of poker don't change in the slightest whether the chips represent real money or nothing at all. Illegal gambling is illegal gambling, regardless of how people try to dress it up as allegedly harmless and misdirect the media and the public by claiming injustice. If you love to play poker so much, just play it for fun instead of for money; even with the vagueness of the law as it currently stands, police won't conduct an ongoing investigation and raid on a friendly card game when money isn't changing hands. Once again, though, this isn't just a moral issue but an economic one, and even if gambling were somehow legalized then *private* gambling would still be illegal for the necessity of regulation and taxation, just like production and distribution of alcohol.
April 9, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
Sounds like this guy Chimento has a gambling addiction.
April 9, 2008 at 7:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rutide (anonymous) says...
What 90% of the people who have posted on this subject don't know about is the underworld of high stakes poker. I'll admit I play in a neighborhood game but never is there more than even a few hundred dollars on the line total. A dear friend of mine has had to go into hiding after playing in underground poker games in the south (not SC). He used to get beat up after winning big and people would take most of his winnings (kind of like a toll). Also, he said hookers and lines of coke were all too common at these games.
This is the type of poker game the law is going after, not your Saturday night with the boys, unless you are bringing in $10,000+ dollars and parking cars up and down the street with paid dealers and a rake.
The problem most people have with this issue is that the law is the law and you HAVE to draw the line somewhere. After a while you will end up like my friend and the games will turn like that.
April 9, 2008 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ConcernedinCHS (anonymous) says...
$40,000 on the table and a rake for the house seems a bit much. Seems a bit more than boys poker night. If this was made legal just how many of these casinos would spring up? Seems like an invitation to crime and violence.
April 9, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cantgetenough (anonymous) says...
this is illegal, put the ski mask on and go waste more of my taxing paying money.
At every weigh-in competitors pay five bucks towards a cash prize which will be divided among the top losing teams at the end of the twelve weeks.
Robert Lawrence is a part of a team of technicians called the Phlabby Labbies. He says his motivation is fear. "I'm on a team with four other women, so I'm really afraid of them," Lawrence joked.
Lucky for Robert the weigh-in was a success. He dropped a pound.
Now his team can inch closer towards a first place finish.
let's face it.
The CEO of Trident Health System is also taking the weight loss challenge hoping to lose some lb's of his own.
" We want to live what we talk about all the time," Terry Gunn said.
But for team "ton of fun" it's about more than the money. Their bottom line is to lose the weight. "We're health care professionals so we want to portray an image of being healthy," Donald Hisnanick said.
April 9, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theblueduece (anonymous) says...
Hi... my name is Bob...
And I am a gambling addict!
(Alright this is where you respond: "Hi Bob")lololol
I am a serious poker player, a poker enthusiast, and it's not wrong to be that way.
Don't tell me I have bad morals... don't tell me that the law is the law (this I know because I have been fighting it for almost 2 years)
This law is unconstitutional and leads to selective enforcement by police.
Example... Poker...
If you play in a game with pennies, nickels, dimes, and quarters (because you are comfortable with these wages and that's what you can afford to play with) according to Al Cannon as he stated on WTMA's Rocky D's show yesterday afternoon, the police will not raid your home.
However... If you pay with wages of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 Dollar Bills then the police, by way of selective enforcement will pay you a visit with a search warrant.
This is were the problem starts... and hopefully now we will have our day in a Mt. Pleasant court in order to fight to have this law changed.
I hope it will allow for those of us who enjoy playing to have the right to play poker... (which is by far a game of skill... and if you think its not go and sit at a table with Mr. Reyes) in the privacy of their homes so long as the odds are even, the house makes no money, and the state receives a small fee in order to regulate the process similar to a hunting, fishing, or shrimping license.
Stay tuned...
April 9, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
maleckar (anonymous) says...
Yes, the law is the law. Yes, the police are correct by enforcing the law, but it does seem that our tax money could have been put to better use. I do believe this is a law that needs changing because as I understand it any game using dice or cards is illegal. If that is correct then playing yatzee, monopoly, "go fish", or even "old maid" is against the law so, more than likely, we have ALL broken this law at some time and place. I do enjoy playing a game of poker on occassion in my home with my husband or a couple of friends and see nothing wrong with this type of small friendly games. I do believe there is a big difference between this type of play and organized gambling. This is were our law is at fault. It needs to be overhauled, expanded, and defined.
April 9, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Maximus123 (anonymous) says...
Isn't the state lottery basically gambling???
April 9, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Perspective (anonymous) says...
I am glad Al Cannon did something about this. It is nice to live in a place where my neighbor can not run an illegal casino next door. There are parking problems, bathroom problems, drugs, and alcohol issues in public view. You people saying that this particular incident should be legal have lost your minds. Many of you would be in a brawl with your neighbor or calling the Sheriff and complaining if it were YOUR neighbor running an illegal casino. Thank you Al Cannon for keeping our neighborhoods a pleasant place to live.
I agree that a couple of guys should be able to get together and play cards. However, "the house" shouldn't get a cut of the game. That makes it an illegal casino which should be regulated by the law and should not be in a residential nieghborhood.
Al Cannon- The guys have got to lose the hoods. I completely understand, but we live in a day of masked home-invaders. Guys working undercover cases should not participate in search warrants unless their identity is no longer an issue. Use your uniformed guys.
Chrispia - You are wasting your time. Some of these people just hate police and government. They should just move to a country like Somolia where the governement has no control.... warlords run the streets and pirates run the coast. They would be happier there.
April 9, 2008 at 9:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justmyview (anonymous) says...
40,000 seems like quite a bit of money for just a casual game of poker among friends.
April 9, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
saltlyck (anonymous) says...
Way to go CPD! It's nice to know our neigborhoods and streets are safer today. Get these scumbags and put them where they belong. In prison! As for the let's legalize comments. Don't hold your breath, it won't happen with drugs, and it won't happen with gambling. Why? Because you nor anyone you know is responsible enough to know how to manage or handle these types of things when legal. You will all end up addicted and ruining your lives. You should however feel very good that these responsibilites are set forth by the government. Therefore there's no need for you to worry about yourself or your fellow man. Just follow the law, make sure your friends and neigbors follow the law, and our country be safe from all evil.
April 9, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bigwhip (anonymous) says...
The Mt. Pleasant group has been waiting for a jury trial for quite sometime. So much for justice. The Mt. P. officials can't seem to put a finger on why it is taking so long to prosecute other than a possible backlog of traffic citations. If it ever goes to trial there will be a hung jury or an acquittal.
April 9, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
TP, I understand that you believe you may have some sort of personal problem with me.
Now if you could master the part where "I do not give a damn" you could possibly free yourself up to say something really worth while. Although given all your other illiterate ranting and raving it is highly unlikely.
Now go read the rest of the paper and practice your reading comprehension like a good little self-professed drug user.
April 9, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
Isn't it odd how TP singles me out.
Maybe Binky-the-talking-turd is just practicing some STALKING skills.
April 9, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Keoki (anonymous) says...
when the government tries to protect you from yourself it is socialism.
capitalist is just a nice way of saying socialists with money.
April 9, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Perspective (anonymous) says...
Hahahahahahahahahahaha---
If you want to be amused today go to the Charleston County Courts page under Criminal and Civil. Look up Bob and Robert Chimento. You will get tired of reading just like I did. Holy cow!
http://www3.charlestoncounty.org:82/c...
April 9, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eastcoastsurfer (anonymous) says...
Maximus123, you hit the nail on the head. The state loves it's monopoly on gambling and is protecting it with more vigor than the best mob boss could muster. Cannon made it pretty clear on Rocky Ds show yesterday that it is all about money. When the police make a huge seizure the department will end up keeping a portion of that money. The only reason they are even looking in on these games is because they, the police, stand to gain a lot of money out of it. If you were to put together a game with hundreds of people where the max bet was 1 cent I can promise you no police would show up.
BTW, if this is truly about gambling, why didn't police raid nearly every office in the county the day everyone filled out their brackets for March Madness?
April 9, 2008 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lillycollette (anonymous) says...
Was I being called-out? It just looked like more intellectually challenged blathering to me. You're wasting your time Binky. However, if you have time to blow showing everyone how big a fool you really are-have a happy.
April 9, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Larz13 (anonymous) says...
The governor could pull the plug on this and pardon everyone charged for playing poker.
Saltlyck--I sincerely hope that was a heaping dose of sarcasm.
April 9, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scdawg (anonymous) says...
Did I read where Sheriff Al used the analogy that murder had been on the books for a long time too? Come on Al, murder???
I guess it is true, you go to hell for a small sin just as you do for a large one.
Monopoly is next....
SCDAWG
April 9, 2008 at 10:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Keoki (anonymous) says...
and I thought that free parking was a fairy story here in charleston sc.
$40,000 is a lot of $500 bills. You go al cannon. is play money taxable now too? or is it illegal to win monopoly money like it is in poker.
maybe that is whats wrong with the cops... they watch too much of the sopranos.
by the way WWTSD? He wouldn't get caught.
April 9, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DVDJMS6 (anonymous) says...
"Whether stupid or not - the law is the law. Does it need to be looked at and changed? Probably. But why are so many quick to criticize the officers that have sworn to uphold these laws? They don't have the luxury of enforcing only those that they agree with."
No disagreement they broke the law, but the statement that the police and the judicial system don't have the "luxury" of enforcing those (laws) that they agree with is B/S. When a state Treasurer gets a 10 month sentence for possessing 1000 grams of cocaine (think Kingpin sentencing guidelines) tell me that the Law is not being applied equally.
April 9, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
SO DVDJMS6.. What does the ravenel case have to do with the officers? Did they not Arrest Him? Whom would be responsible for this light sentence?
3 Branches of government....?
April 9, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eastcoastsurfer (anonymous) says...
ChrisPia, the Revenel case doesn't have anything to do with the poker case, but it's being used as an example of the interesting priorities of SC law enforcement. Another example is how SLED and MP botched the case of Molly Wrazen who died in MP 5-6 years ago, but they are on top of arresting grandmas for playing poker. When police start acting this way, it undermines the public trust and support of them. Saying 'it's the law' doesn't work either. They are using a law that bans all card and dice games. Then why aren't they fining stores that sell cards and dice? According to 'the law', *all* games involving cards or dice are illegal, not just ones which the cops stand to gain the most money out of from seizures.
April 9, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DVDJMS6 (anonymous) says...
The legal system as a whole is in need of a facelift.
The law enforcement officers are front line and do as directed by higher authority but Al Cannon is in charge of street level officers and this incident is proof of the grandstanding/theatrics when it is convenient and unwarranted.
He chose to have the media present at the initial arrest and again at the Sheriffs office.
Oh and as I recall Ravenel turned himself in after a stint in an Arizona rehab center, A COURTESY THAT WOULD NOT BE AFFORDED
AN AVERAGE CRIMINAL. (Again the Legal system, as a whole, is more than a bit flawed)
April 9, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
auger (anonymous) says...
Per South Carolina law, if any of you have ever had sex with a boyfriend or girlfriend within the borders of this state, you are guilty of a crime as sinister as gambling. So, the next time you see your neighbor or roommate having a "sleepover", call the Sheriff's office at once! Since they cannot selectively enforce laws on the books, they will have to respond.
It is also legal to beat your wife as long as you do it on Sunday, on the courthouse steps. Hmm, honey, lets go downtown this weekend, I have a surprise for you!
April 9, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RHamilton (anonymous) says...
Maybe we should just start executing people for these crimes? (lol)
We are - what - the 4th worst state in crime in the entire country - and now even one of the worst places to raise children? ...and we are focused on this heinous crime for 10 months - and hiding peoples faces, etc? Is this really happening in our state right now?
R Hamilton
City of Charleston
April 9, 2008 at noon ( permalink | suggest removal )
CarolinaGirl223 (anonymous) says...
This whole thing is stupid.
Why would we need to worry about a group of people getting together to play cards.
No one really takes notice that of the $40000 half of it was taken from the people, the money was not even in play.
Something that bothers me is that the state is trying to lower the sentance for selling crack, so that they will be released sooner to make room for more criminals.
Our police force is so obsessed with dramatics and costume show get ups, that they refuse to use wisdom when deciding between a group of friends playing poker, or busting up a drug ring in summerville.
April 9, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RMabry (anonymous) says...
You have to admit this is funny that our local police force is so focused on something like this.
April 9, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
Apparently someoene called in a tip or a complaint. Should the police not have investigated? They probably expected to find a few friends playing poker and would let it slide or just warn them. But it turned out to be a fairly large and growing organized ring.
Gambling is notoriously associated with organized crime, loan sharks and money laundering.
THAT is why it is illegal.
I bet this investigation will turn up some pretty interesting stuff.
April 9, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FALCON86 (anonymous) says...
HOW CAN THE MOST OF YOU PRAISE THE POLICE FOR ARRESTING TWO TEENAGE BLACK BOYS BUT CONDEMN THEM FOR ENFORCING THIS LAW. MURDER, RAPE, AND NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS ARE THAT ARE DONE BY PEOPLE SO INFREQUENTLY AND THE POLICE CANNOT STOP THESE CRIMES BEFORE THEY HAPPEN. IF YOU WANT THESE CRIMES TO STOP THEN WE WILL BECOME A COMMUNIST COUNTRY WITH AN OFFICER ON EVERY CORNER SO THESE CRIMES DON'T HAPPEN. THIS GENTLEMAN WILL SOON BECOME A HABITUAL OFFENDER AND WILL SO GET SOME SERIOUS JAIL TIME IF HE DOES NOT STOP WITH HIS ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES. HOWEVER SOME OF YOU BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE HE LOOKS LIKE YOU THAT THE LAW DOES NOT APPLY. WE ALL HAVE RULES TO FOLLOW. IF THOSE PARENTS CANNOT LIVE IN GADSEN GREEN APARTMENTS THEN THIS GENTLEMAN CAN STAND TRIAL FOR HIS CRIMES.
April 9, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RMabry (anonymous) says...
Good points Thomas1776...
and suec good points as well too...
There has always been some-sort-of an unspoken feud between the CCSD and CPD so perhaps the moment the CCSD found out in there investigation that a CPD officer was involved, well you know the rest. It makes good news too, notice that the first individual mentioned in the P&C article was Charleston's finest. I feel bad for the CCSD officer who is caught speeding in CPD territory, ha-ha, just kidding I'm sure that would never happen.
It is hard to believe that so many resources have been put forward on this - and it does seem odd about the ski masks. That does seem really odd. (Hiding from CPD officer's?) Why?
April 9, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
RMabry (anonymous) says...
Falcon86 - you are right on the money. Unfortunately (as you are aware) the system is very crooked. The lock 'em up and throw away the key philosophy is not working. I read where South Carolina is one of the worst states in the country and a bad state for raising kids:we have maybe the highest percentage of people in prison and it looks very disproportionate (you're right, it is disproportionate) but the past philosophies are not working (give people more jail time, punish, punish, punish, lock 'em up, etc) doesn't seem to be working, we're still near the bottom in the most dangerous state to live in. Some people say we just keep better records than other states but people in other states say the same thing about their own states' records too. What are we doing wrong in our pursuit of criminal justice? What can be done to rectify it? There is no doubt (per statistics) we live in one of the most dangerous states in this country and that this is the worst state to raise children:what do we do to fix that?
April 9, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
Thomas1776: "Any person engaged in a trade or employment in which a mask is worn for the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer or because of the nature of the occupation, trade or profession;"
***Now please tell me where it says it is a crime. I'll break it down for you.
Any Person=Police ,Sheriff,Law enforcement,You or I,Everyone.
Trade or employment in which a mask is worn=Law enforcement Nationwide for undercover police officers
Physical safety=Being assaulted,Shot,knifed ,killed(No time Restriction in this law)
IN The Nature of the profession=search warrant execution for breaking the law Issued by a Judge.
Once Again NO CRIME COMMITTED BY THE POLICE WEARING A MASK As THIS LAW IS WRITTEN
.
April 9, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
You Can't Mess With Bob Chimento... You Can't Mess With Bob Chimento... You Can't Mess With Bob Chimento... Woof! Woof!
April 9, 2008 at 1:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
That's My Dog!
April 9, 2008 at 1:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dvlcrab (anonymous) says...
Make no mistake folks, most of these men were running a well organized poker racket. Heck, I'd to make an extra $5000 a week, all completely tax free. So if you honorable folks don't mind, I am going to set up some blackjack tables in my dining room all in the name of good, clean fun. Now let's all say it together - Not in my back yard!
April 9, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rebel_Yell (anonymous) says...
Thank you Big Brother for saving my life again from the dangerous playing cards and dice. And thanks to the peasants for supporting Big Brother on this issue. The law is the law as they say - dont' ever question authority. Tax the tea and let's see if Great Britain will take us back since the peasants have lost all courage to challenge stupid laws.
p.s. Lily you would have been the prune objecting to the Boston Tea Party.
April 9, 2008 at 2:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
4HomePoker (anonymous) says...
For all of the "the Law is the law enthusiest".
I hope you are all taxpayers and not living off the government. Since Adultery is also still a crime in the state of South Carolina maybe we should start an Adultery task force. Anyone suspecting that their spouse may be unfaithful can call the task force hotline and report their spouse. We the tax payers can pay for this task force to try and catch any unfaithful spouse. If that person is beleived to be unfaithful we can have masked men burst through the door with guns drawn and handcuff everyone in the house including mom and or the babysitter while the children watch(can't be to careful).
Sherriff Cannon I know this is a 200 year old law, but as you said so is Murder. You really must start enforcing this law as well as the sodomy law get some undercovers to investigate that so they can get screwed like you are screwing the public!!!!!!!!
April 9, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashepoo (anonymous) says...
I don't have a problem with the games being broken up. If a bunch of teenagers are over at someone's house having a party and drinking, cops job is to bust them, make sure no one gets hurt, its the price of playing poker- pun intended. But cops don't wear ski masks and bust down the door at a keg party, they don't have the dog and pony show at Leed's Avenue when people are turning themsleves in.... this has got nothing to do with protecting citizens or upholding the law, it is Law Enforcement looking for press, press looking to sell newspapers and commercial time. I get nausiated every time I see another story about this. Write them tickets, let them pay the fines. We are not going to change the law to allow poker to be played in South Carolina in the next few weeks and more than likely in the next 50 years. People don't want to make gambling legal here- although it would raise a bunch of revenue and Myrtle Beach already looks like vegas or atlantic city- but it will not happen. And no matter what the police do, people won't stop playing cards. They will be more careful, and they should, but they won't stop playing. Al Cannon knows that as well as anyone. Law enforcement has handled this terribly with all the sensationalism, but they are not the only culprits. If I see one more of these players on TV talking about changing the law or that they were not doing anything wrong I am going to scream. You did something that is fun, happens to be illegal, everyone knows it is illegal. You got caught, in a ridiculous manner and complete waste of resources, but you got caught. Pay your fines, shut the hell up, see you next week at the poker game.
April 9, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MBass151 (anonymous) says...
If you go back far enough in the law books spitting on the sidewalk is illegal but you can beat your wife on Sunday as long as it is done on the courthouse steps. A word of warning - if my husband decides to beat me on the courthouse steps on Sunday some serious you know what is going to break loose.
That being said, the law is still the law and if you knowingly break the law then you deserve whatever comes down the pipe. The biggest hypocracy in this incident that I find is that the majority of the individuals arrested and/or being charged in the future "know" what the law is and yet they chose to break it. That truly is disgusting.
April 9, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
Al Cannon Should Resign!
I do not want to ever hear the police department say they are understaffed, underpaid, and need more funding if they have 10 months to chase down this nonsense!
How about keeping us safe from criminals?!
April 9, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
AL CANNON - YOU SHOULD RESIGN.
DO NOT EVER SAY THE PD NEEDS ANYTHING MORE FROM THE TAXPAYERS SINCE YOU WATED 10 MONTHS CHASING THIS KIND OF NONSENSE DOWN.
WE NEED A SHERIFF WHO WILL NOT WASTE OUR TAX DOLLARS ON THIS BUT BUT RATHER STAY FOCUSED ON KEEPING US SAFE.
April 9, 2008 at 4:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ChrisPia (anonymous) says...
ashepoo.. That law has to be revised though to eliminate kids playing board games.It must be reworded..
Al Cannon has already acknowledged that the policy of entering a residence with ski masks will be changed.(For the safety of the officers and the public). It's a danger because when robbers bust into the House they normally have ski masks on.(I know you Yell police). But all it takes is a second for the homeowner to fire and then you firing at him..(I also know that manpower is low and undercovers have to do double duty most of the time).
BE SAFE!
April 9, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
I'm confused.
Can the bank robbers turn themselves in at anytime or do they have to wait for the "costume party" aslo?
April 9, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MBass151 (anonymous) says...
Jlaw - using your all caps key to yell about wanting Al Cannon to resign is not going to expedite his or anyone else's resignation.
April 9, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
JLAW,
You are correct, I don't want to ever hear that again either, how many real crimes could have been prevented in that 10 months with the resources the police used on this childsplay, what an outrage!
April 9, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
The police need to start answering the tough questions! Such as:
How many man hours were spent on this investigation and how much did it costs?
April 9, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
thanks for pointing that out MBass. I willnot use the all caps key again.
April 9, 2008 at 4:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
And how many rapes, robberies, etc. occured during that 10 months the police were diverted to this investigation!
April 9, 2008 at 4:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MBass151 (anonymous) says...
Jlaw - Thanks. Not that all caps is bad and certain words for emphasis should be caps, but it just makes the poster look bad. If you know what I mean. No harm intended.
April 9, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
if undercovers are already pulling double-duty... then this stinks ever more.
I donot feel the police have done their job protecting me can I get a tax refund if I am unsatisfied with the way they wasted the dollars?
When are the reporters going to ask about the manhours and costs of the investigation?
April 9, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
If they have the resources and manpower to chase this down.. then their budget is to big. We need to cut it downa and redirect some of it towards the schools!
April 9, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
Hey Mayor, I'd say that, "I'd bet you" but since that might get me in trouble I will simply will say that CCPD has probably have spent more time and money on this (poker) than they have on Daniel Heirs (wanted for murder).
April 9, 2008 at 5:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MBass151 (anonymous) says...
First - Let us not just assume that those involved were pulling double duty - double duty is at times required but not always.
Second - Let us not assume that while this investigation was going on crime was at an all time high because every officer was pulled off their regular duty and assigned to this investigation.
Third - The cost of the investigation could have been funded with the regular budget, the percentage of funds that are allocated from seizure of drug money, etc. So...it may not have been all taxpayer dollars.
Fourth - I personally would like to see as much effort being put into getting the drug sales of America Street in Charleston or any other area in the Low Country as was put into this - you can be completely oblivious to what it takes to sell drugs on a street corner but one drive down this street right in the middle of the day will give you the education you need in order to be successful at it.
April 9, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
That guy lives in a $600,000+ house in a nice place. I'll bet all the police needed to do was knock on the door and give them a verbal warning 10 months ago and they would have stoped or moved the game then... meaning the tax payers could have saved a ton and the police could have perhaps prevented some of the teriible crimes I read about everyday.
April 9, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MBass151 (anonymous) says...
I do agree with that.
April 9, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
I want to know how many manhours were wasted on this junk!
April 9, 2008 at 5:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
These were nice people. They would have stoped or moved if the police or the HOA had just knocked on the door and warned them to stop. No doubt!
Somebody said that those folks were crooks and wanted for other crimes. From the article I read here - most all of them "had no prior criminal record". Some had warrants, which I think were most likely just the warrents issued in connection to this within other municipalities.
These people were for the most part outstanding citizens and taxpayers. Many will lose their lively hood over this arrest.
P.S. I did not read anything about drugs or weapons being founds despite the police allowing a drug dog to scratch and claw through all of the players cars.
Again, how much did this cost us taxpayers? How many manhours were wasted?
April 9, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
This whole thing is a sham, at least the police officer and deputy solicitor busted along with the others will lose their jobs! People need to wake up and remember we pay these guys saleries and this is unacceptable! What a crock of BS!
April 9, 2008 at 6:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
maybe but the those teachers, nurses, and oter prfessionals will also lose their jobs and willnot be employable in their choosen fields all due to this junk. They will inevitably take jobs earning less and potentially become dependant on society.. great less tax revenue and more burdens on society.. these people should not be subjected to the agony over something so stupid..
April 9, 2008 at 6:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillMan (anonymous) says...
Hey what's good for the goose is good for the gander, that's is the point I am trying to make! If the police want to start busting through people's houses to enforce laws such as this, we would all be going to jail, the police are subject to the same laws as you and I and they need to be charged as well! They think they are above the law, not so!
April 9, 2008 at 6:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
SC still has laws dictating what sex acts you and your partner can and can't perform.
Maybe the sheriff will start having the armed gunman, correction I mean police, break into our bedrooms also.
What a crock! There are thousands of stupid laws that smart police officers and commanders choose to not waste thier time enforcing. This should be one of those aswell.
I would maybe say that if a neighbor was fustrated and called the police that writing tickets on the spot to stop the activity would be fine... but to launch an expensive 10 month investigation? Give me a break!
We need a new sheriff who will use our tax dollars wisely.
April 9, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
auger (anonymous) says...
After seeing the video on the news earlier, I can't seem to get the theme song from 'The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' out of my head. What the hell were you thinking? Grow up! Halloween in in October.
April 9, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Perspective (anonymous) says...
jlaw- When they said 10 month investigation, that probably didnt mean all day every day. That probably meant they got a tip/complaint 10 months ago and they starting checking into it. Since they only played on the weekend night for a few hours, I doubt that these officers were devoted solely to this.
Yes - the law should be changed, but not to allow illegal neighorhood casinos like this one.
Yes - the masks are a dumb idea in this day of home invasions.
Yes - they probably should have ended this after the first two weekends, but they probably sent an undercover inside. They likely started getting good secret video and got carried away.
April 9, 2008 at 8:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jcg04 (anonymous) says...
This incident just illustrates one of the very reasons why violent crime has continually increased in Charleston County. And I am sure that we can all be especially proud of the fact that North Charleston was ranked No. 7 most dangerous city in the nation last year. I guess the priorities of the Sheriffs department have shifted from protecting the citizens of Charleston County from murder, rape or robbery. Well Congrats, Sheriff Cannon I am sure this incident will be quite lucrative for the CCSD, at the expense of quite a few good citizens. If the officers and resources that took part in this 10 month sting had been on the streets looking out for our safety, I wonder how many lives could have been saved or how many serious crimes could have been avoided? If this is the best that the CCSD can do, this is clearly a poor return on the taxpayers investment.
P.S. If you want to save the county some money, let the deputies in the mask work for free. Because these guys would do the job for free as long as they could continue their power trip with a gun and a badge...
April 9, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
right on jcg04.. NC ranked no. #7 in the county for most dangerous places to live!
If he keeps wasting the money on these types of investigations he will cruise N Charleston into the #1 slot for most dangerous places to live.
Great Job Al!
So once again I ask just how many man hours and how much $$$ was spent on this investigation?
April 9, 2008 at 10:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whome (anonymous) says...
I think the premise behind many of the vice crimes, especially those involving consenting adults, is not so much the activity itself, but rather the secondary effects. So it's not so much that these people are gambling inside the privacy of their "homes" but that the gambling losses could lead to other crimes. To me, this rationale is spurious, but then again, it's also somewhat shaky in the context of many drug interactions. Punish the secondary effects themselves and not the consenting behavior.
April 9, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pcreader (anonymous) says...
I cant believe the circus of stupidity. I saw a commercial today warning of the signs of a gambling problem-by the sc lottery. how is the lottery not gambling. why are certain forms of gambling illegal? is it that the state is not getting any money from at home gambling. lets be realistic here. wouldnt our tax dollars be better suited in tackling the real issues-you know like actual crime. Is it necessary for masked officers? There are laws on sodomy but you dont see masked cops staking out anyones bedrooms. I love SC but this is just another reason why everyone else in the country thinks of us as dumb. But hey-we have an education lottery! HMMM
April 10, 2008 at 12:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SteveWynn (anonymous) says...
PCREADER, those are exactly my thoughts.
With this ancient law still in effect, it's just one more reason for the rest of the country to laugh at SC. If SC would just allow a couple of indian casinos to open, it would give these people a legal outlet. Many states now have casinos, and they DID NOT turn into Las Vegas. We don't need to go back to those sleazy poker machines in every gas station. If you make something illegal or bad, human nature tends to make people do it more. I think I've seen more people with tattoos here, than I did when I lived in any other state. Why? Because it was illegal.
April 10, 2008 at 2:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jlaw (anonymous) says...
if i took a brief case with $100,000 down to any gas station. I could buy 100,000 losing lottery tickets. Who cares?
North Charleston is one of the top 10 most dangerous communities in this county to live in according to the FBI. With the sheriff spending their resources on this mess it is no wonder why.
I am sick of hearing about staffing and budget problems with the police department since they appear to have time and money for this investigation.
We should demand that Cannon resign and that the county cut the police departments budget and give the difference to our strugling school system.
When will one these reporters have the guts to press Cannon on the number of manhours wated in this? and the costs?
April 10, 2008 at 11:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
shesson (anonymous) says...
Amen pcreader.
I am from Ohio and actually have a relative who is one of the "repeat" offenders.The majority of the money seized in the 2006 raid was mostly from the home owners personal savings that was kept on the premises and not actually part of the card game. Also, the authorities were tipped off by a law enforcement officers son who had been asked to leave a game some weeks before for becoming intoxicated and unruley. Sounds like sour grapes to me.
The sad part in the whole thing is that the truth is being skewed in favor of the law. Gambling is against the law in S.C., yes, and those who break it are taking that risk, but the papers and media are only reporting the embellished story from the authorities and not both sides.
In truth, those officers involved in the raids should be brought up on charges of providing false evidence by not distinguishing between real evidence and drummed up crap.
In Ohio we have a State Lottery and gambling is legal, yet we have repeatedly voted no on casinos and riverboat gambling. This allows individuals to enjoy it as they please, in there own homes, without bringing the negatives associated with casinos to the community.
Of course in a democracy the majority rules,and that only works if people are allowed to be heard through voting. Democracy isn't against the law in S.C., is it?
I never really thought of S.C. residents as dumb, but Al Cannon sure isn't helping when he makes comparisons between gambling laws and murder laws. Jackass.
April 13, 2008 at 1 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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