Tuckers' sentencing delayed until next week

James Chad Tucker and his wife, Christina Tucker, were scheduled to be sentenced last Monday but a scheduling conflict with their attorney has resulted in the hearing being postponed until Monday, Nov. 9.

The Tuckers, who were indicted in March on violation of 18 USC 1955, prohibition of illegal gambling businesses, could be facing possible maximum sentences of five years each.

The indictment stated that the pair "willfully and knowingly did conduct, finance, manage, supervise direct and own all and part of an illegal gambling business ..."

The federal charges arose from a raid executed on Aug. 12 of last year that followed an investigation by the Shelbyville Police Department, the 17th Judicial Drug Task Force, the TBI and the FBI.

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

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

Authorities took $48,000 in cash, gambling paraphernalia, a small amount of marijuana and firearms in the raid.

Two of the dealers caught in the raid will also be sentenced this week.

Andrew Welsh Craze and Samuel Cory Owens were both found guilty last month of one count each of aggravated gambling promotion, a class E felony, and will be sentenced Thursday by Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell.