On Friday, February 10th, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, along with deputies from the Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Team, executed a search warrant at SKILLZ Game Room in Statesville. The officers responded after learning that the location was operating an illegal gambling operation. In January of 2023, nine locations in Iredell County were identified as operating illegal “gaming machines” and paying winnings out in cash. This type of operation is prohibited under North Carolina General Statute and so, undercover investigators with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office entered the businesses and reportedly observed the illegal activity firsthand. In response to the evidence, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office served each location with a “Cease and Desist Letter”, informing the business owners that they must stop all illegal operations no later than fifteen days after the letter was delivered. After the notices were served, investigators continued to monitor the businesses to ensure they were in compliance. Most businesses followed the orders, however, the SKILLZ Game Room merely changed the computer software in an attempt to get around the terms of the letter. As a result, the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division and the ACE Team were forced to execute the search warrant on Friday.
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