Investigation into Two Storefront Casinos in Davison, Burton, Results in Five People Being Charged with More than 30 Offenses
1K
Five individuals accused of running the Davison and Burton storefront casinos were recently arraigned in Flint’s 67th District Court on 31 charges following a recent joint investigation by the Michigan Department of Attorney General and the MGCB.
In searches on April 27, 2023, at The State Road Spot, 723 South State Road in Davison, and The Bristol Spot, 1374 East Bristol Road in Burton, law enforcement officers seized 100 gambling devices, $29,204 in alleged gambling winnings, and 62 gift cards of various denominations.
According to Henry Williams, executive director of the MGCB, accountability is essential for protecting justice and guaranteeing a fair and honest gaming environment in the state of Michigan. The Michigan Gaming Control Board recognizes the value of fairness, equality, and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty while vowing to keep those who choose to break the law accountable for their deeds. The MGCB conducts its operations with integrity, and its investigators are dedicated to upholding the fundamentals of a just process that safeguards the rights of everyone concerned.
Charges were brought in August and September against the people listed below:
- Mary Larkin and Joseph Toporek are each charged with five offenses: one high court misdemeanor for maintaining a gambling establishment for profit; one misdemeanor for running a gambling house; and three felony counts for operating a gambling operation without a license and using computers for illegal activity;
- Ghazwan Brikho, Shaun Bellah II, and Shaun Bellah Sr. are each charged with seven offenses: One high court misdemeanor for operating a gambling house for profit; one misdemeanor for maintaining a gambling house; and five felony counts for operating a criminal enterprise, operating a gambling operation without a license, conspiring to operate a criminal enterprise, and using computers for illegal activity.
Gambling is legal in Michigan when operated under the MGCB’s license or the license of the National Indian Gaming commission. Michiganders and visitors can enjoy the services of three commercial casinos in Detroit, over 20 Michigan tribal casinos, and MI online casino sites.
