Gambling suspects' cases continued

Seven individuals facing felony charges in the raid will appear in General Sessions court on Jan. 30.

James and Christina Tucker, the alleged operators of the gaming establishment, were in court briefly Tuesday and were seen in consultation with their attorney, Clay Parker.

Each of the Tuckers were charged with one count of aggravated gambling promotion -- a class E felony -- and one count of possession of gambling devices, according to court records.

Also in court Tuesday were Neal C. Phillips, 27, Woodbury; Samuel C. Owens, 27, Smyrna; Victor G. Gill, 48, Shelbyville; Andrew W. Craze, 26, Oliver Springs; and Christian E. Jeppsen II, 24, of Bell Buckle, all who are facing charges of aggravated gambling promotion, while Gill is facing two counts.

On Aug. 12, a raid at 101 Tillett Court took place where high dollar poker games were allegedly held. A total of 33 people were caught up in the raid, with seven facing felony charges and 26 others charged with misdemeanor gambling.

In September, 15 people who were facing misdemeanor charges pleaded guilty and paid fines and court costs totaling $327, as well as giving up any money that was seized during the raid of the alleged gaming house.

The raid followed a four-month investigation by Shelbyville police, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the 17th Judicial District Drug Task Force, and Tennessee Highway Patrol, along with an area FBI agent.

Authorities seized $48,000 in cash, gambling paraphernalia, a small amount of marijuana and firearms in the raid. Det. Brian Crews of the Shelbyville Police Department headed the investigation.

Surveillance was conducted on the building for several nights and authorities also had undercover agents inside.

Crews said the Tuckers had a doorman, Gill, providing security for the gaming house and video cameras covering the outside of the building. Two-way radios were allegedly used so that the operators could know when a player would enter the structure.

Once inside, authorities found four commercial poker tables, each with room for 10 players plus the dealer.

"It was high stakes poker games where they were playing Texas hold 'em," Crews said in August, with one table having a "buy in" of $1,000, another at $500 and two tables with a $200 "buy-in."

"It was no limit, from what we understand," Crews said of the games.

So much evidence was taken from the building that it took a large U-Haul truck to carry it away. The TBI was called in because of the size of the operation, Crews said.