Video Poker 247
- Defendant Gives Up Cops
A man who has already been charged with illegal video poker gambling
was all too ready to throw a couple of county sheriffs to the wolves.
James Otis Henderson, 42, facing jail time for attempting to bribe a
sheriff’s officer, turned the tables on two sheriff’s that he accuses
of accepting bribes.
Henderson was arrested for trying to bribe the Rutherford County
sheriff, who was working undercover for the feds. He offered him
$10,000 and the sheriff offered him a jail cell. He is charged with
operating an illegal video poker or gambling establishment and for
attempted bribery.
Henderson said that other sheriff’s in other counties were also taking
bribes, so it was ok if the Rutherford County one did too. Because of
the evidence against him he decided to cop a plea and rollover on the
deputies. He said one sheriff was paid $100 per video poker machine
per month, and that would give him protection. He said the other one
was paid monthly.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Howell said that the defendant had proved
that video poker and himself had become part of a “widespread criminal
conspiracy” which could corrupt the whole justice system. The U.S.
Department of Justice in Charlotte says that the case is under
investigation, but could not give any further details on the case.
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August 2007 Archive
