Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 22, 1993 TAG: 9301220297
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
AUTHORITIES RAID POKER GAME AT MOOSE LODGE
A high-stakes poker game at the Hollins Moose Lodge in Botetourt County was raided Wednesday by the Sheriff's Department and other authorities.One man was arrested and charged with conducting an illegal gambling operation, a felony. Four others were issued summons on misdemeanor gambling charges.
All five men were members of the Moose Lodge, and the lodge was collecting a portion of the gambling proceeds, said Botetourt County Chief Deputy Ken Smith.
Investigators seized $5,182 in cash, several decks of cards, poker chips and two poker tables when they searched the Moose Lodge, on U.S. 11 just over the Botetourt County line. Smith said four men were involved in a game when the raid took place.
The minimum to get into a game was $100, he said.
Charged with conducting the game was Michael Oland Wright, 47, of the 5100 block of Yellow Mountain Road in Roanoke County. Issued summonses on gambling charges was Norman Yale Azarch, 63; Charles Fisher Faggart, 48; Bobby Orman Kiker, 56; and Earl Randolph Wills, 53, all of Roanoke.
None of the men was an officer in the Moose Lodge.
Smith said the Sheriff's Department received several tips last month about the poker games, which were being held Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. The games would begin at noon and run into the night.
Smith was not sure how long the game had been going at the Hollins Moose Lodge, but he said investigators believe it moved there after a similar game with some of the same people was raided in Roanoke.
It is illegal under Virginia law to operate poker games where the house takes a cut of the proceeds.
The raid Wednesday was carried out by the Sheriff's Department and members of the Roanoke vice squad and Norfolk Southern Corp. police, who assisted in the surveillance on the Moose Lodge.