Special to the Herald

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, GA: Several arrests were made following a lengthy joint agency gambling investigation.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) Commercial Gambling Unit, along with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office, executed arrest warrants Dec. 12 across Effingham County for violations of Georgia’s gambling laws.

During the lengthy investigation, agents discovered businesses operating Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMS) where customers were receiving cash payouts for wining credits. In Georgia, COAMS must be properly licensed by the Georgia Lottery and credits may only be redeemed for lottery tickets and/or store merchandise.

Arrest warrants were secured by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office for the following:

·       Debra McFadden, 64, is charged with two counts of paying out currency for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

·       Deepkumar Patel, 29, is charged with three counts of paying out tobacco for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

·       Hemal “Harry” Patel, 36, is charged with three counts of paying out currency for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

·       Hiralben Patel, 43, is charged with one count of paying out tobacco for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

·       Michelle Price, 44, is charged with one count of paying out currency for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

·       Mineshkumar Patel, 59, is charged with two counts of paying out currency for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

·       Pushpakumar Patel, 62, is charged with two counts of paying out tobacco for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

·       Rajesh Patel, 60, is charged with one count of paying out tobacco for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

·       Veronica Potter, 63, is charged with one count of paying out tobacco for accrued credits on coin operation amusement machines (COAMS).

All were from Effingham County and the charges are misdemeanors. This investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are pending at this time.