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VFW busted for illegal gambling devices
By JASON MUNZ/Item Staff Writer
Saturday, July 16, 2005 5:52 PM CDT


During a vice check at the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) on Ridge Road in Picayune, the Picayune Police Department found and seized five illegal gaming devices and an illegal pull tab machine along with $3,268.27 in illegal gambling proceeds, according to a press release issued Friday by PPD.

Hugh E. Miller, 66, of Picayune, was arrested and charged with five counts of possession of illegal gambling devices and two counts of possession of illegal pull tabs.
The charges could carry a total of four-and-a-half years in jail and $12,500 in fines.

According to police, patrons would place currency into the machine and receive tickets as their earnings. After receiving the tickets, patrons would cash them in at the register of the VFW.

Officers located an unopened container of pull tabs hidden inside the tab machine. Also, officers learned the VFW had been conducting illegal dice games during business hours."