Two men running game rooms in Springfield, Joplin face federal charges

Posted by Admin November 15, 2024 Gambling

Two men involved in operating game rooms in Springfield and Joplin have been charged in federal court for interstate travel to promote, manage and carry on illegal gambling. However, court documents reveal even more criminal activity ensuing in the gambling rooms.

According to documents filed in the Western District of Missouri, Rahulkumar Patel and Preston Bustillo are both facing charges of the federal crime involving illegal gambling rooms in Missouri with ties to businesses in Georgia and an individual in New York.

The probable cause reveals that upon a raid at a gaming room, Spin Hitters, in Springfield where law enforcement officers encountered Patel, several trucks were rented to transport the remaining lottery machines to a game room in Joplin. An officer also observed machines being picked up at Big Win Arcade at the Plaza Shopping Center. This happened in March, after Springfield City Council passed regulations to effectively ban video lottery terminals within city limits in mid-February. The federal charges are not related to the VLT ordinance.

Law enforcement tracked the rented trucks to DNP Enterprise, which was formed in Georgia in 2022 yet administratively dissolved in 2023. Phone numbers associated with the rental were traced to distributors of illegal gambling machines in Georgia and one of the three trucks was rented in Florida to be driven to Springfield by Bustillo, according to court documents.

Hiding higher revenues

Moving out of Springfield, a game room was established in Joplin in the early fall. Patel had informed law enforcement officers the business brought in roughly $600-900 each day being open 24 hours a day. Officers observed about 50 video machines lining the walls. While Patel told officers the business would be shut down when officers informed him it violated Missouri state law, a couple of weeks later the game room still remained in operation, though this time two other employees were managing the business.

Undercover police officers conducted a controlled operation inside the Joplin game room Oct. 16 using $80 of police funds to do so. According to probable cause, the officers confirmed the video devices operated like traditional slot machines. Upon attempting to “cash out” the winnings from playing the machines, the machine prompted them to press one of three boxes to print their winning ticket. If the officers pressed the wrong box, the machine would print a ticket of lesser value than what was displayed.

As they tried to cash out their winnings, the employees of the business allegedly would round down to make it an even dollar amount.

After the Joplin Police Department served a search warrant Oct. 23 of the facility, “47 hard drives from gambling devices, handwritten documents showing tens of thousands of dollars passing through the business, other financial documents and $4,394.04” were seized, though other components of the devices remained. After this search, the owner of the building contacted the officers and informed them that the space and a warehouse were being rented by an individual in New York.

According to court documents, on Oct. 31 DNP Enterprise again rented a truck in Georgia for Bustillo as the driver for interstate travel. Officers observed Bustillo move approximately 25 machines into the truck from the business. After being apprehended, both Patel and Bustillo admitted they drove from Georgia to Joplin the previous night.

In arguing for Patel’s pretrial detention, Michael Oliver, lead attorney seeking the charges in the case, argued that Patel’s criminal conduct was not limited to the interstate travel. Oliver claims Patel was responsible for day-to-day management of gambling operations that brought in more than $9.5 million in revenue from locations in Springfield, Joplin and Branson West. In addition, Patel is alleged to have “participated in a wire fraud scheme that defrauded the City of Springfield of tax revenue” reporting total revenues across four locations that was at least twelve times smaller than actual revenues. The court document also includes claims that Springfield Police Department had received calls for service for firearm assault, drug overdose and strongarm robbery events at the Spin Hitters location.

Patel is being held at Greene County Jail without bail. According to court documents, Patel is believed to be a flight risk because of lack of U.S. citizenship, the lack of familial and residential ties and his wife, mother and child living in India. Bustillo was released on a personal recognizance bond.

(This story was updated to meet our standards.)

Marta Mieze covers local government at the News-Leader. Have feedback, tips or story ideas? Contact her at mmieze@news-leader.com.