A Centreville woman and her father-in-law have received suspended sentences for their part in an illegal gambling operation run out of the woman's home. Her husband is due to enter a plea, the end of this month.
Bradley L. McLaughlin, 27, and his wife Jeanna M. Anderson, 26, live at 14623 Seasons Drive in Centreville's Bryarton community, off Stone Road. McLaughlin's father, Dexter L. McLaughlin, 52, lives at 8352 Montgomery Run Road in Ellicott City, Md. And last August, Fairfax County police busted all three in connection with the crime.
IN AN Aug. 5, 2004 affidavit for a search warrant to seek evidence of illicit gambling in the Centreville home, police Det. David Baucom wrote that investigation revealed the existence of illegal poker games there.
"Thousands of dollars are wagered in these games," he wrote. "The poker games at 14623 Seasons Drive may sometimes last into the next day, and [the McLaughlins and Anderson] are compensated by the players for allowing them to play there."
Police had conducted surveillance of the home over several months, accumulating evidence for prosecution. Then, armed with a search warrant, on Aug. 5 at 10:54 p.m., they raided the place. When they were through, police drove away with poker tables, chips and cards, plus piles of cash from stashes throughout the townhouse.
But before leaving, they arrested 23 people who were playing cards there at the time. All of them were charged with misdemeanor participating in gambling.
Later, after police processed the information and evidence they'd obtained, they served arrest warrants to the McLaughlins and Anderson on Aug. 17. Each was charged with conducting an illegal gambling operation.
"The people running it were clearing about $40,000 a month," said police spokesman Bud Walker. "They were playing card games such as poker and blackjack."
According to Det. Baucom, "players in the game keep their money in their pockets and wallets. The dealers also keep money used in the poker game in their pockets. There are two, 12-person poker tables in the basement and, when [they're] full, players wait in line to get a seat. On any given night, there are approximately 30 players in the basement."
BESIDES SEIZING poker paraphernalia on Aug. 5, police also confiscated cash from the two poker tables, the kitchen cabinet and office, the jewelry cabinet and shoe stand in the master bedroom, Anderson's wallet and pocket and a hidden stair drawer. Also seized were records and documents.
Dexter McLaughlin appeared Jan. 25 in General District Court, where his charge was reduced to a misdemeanor — accessory to gambling activity. Judge Stewart Davis found him guilty and sentenced him to 12 months in jail, suspending all that time and placing him on a year's probation.
Then last Tuesday, Feb. 22, Anderson appeared in General District Court before Judge Robert Smith. At that time, Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Ian Rodway recommended that her sentence also be reduced, and she pleaded guilty to accessory to gambling activity. Then Smith gave her a 12-month suspended sentence, as well, conditioned on her good behavior.
Rodway then agreed to amend the charge of her husband, Bradley McLaughlin, to a class six felony — which means that the amount of dollars involved and the duration of the offense won't be a part of his offense.
That way, explained his attorney Bob Whitestone, he'll be facing a possible maximum of five years, instead of 10, in prison. A higher penalty is attached to this crime if its more than 30 days in duration.
Smith accepted the amendment and McLaughlin then waived his right to a preliminary hearing. His charge now goes to the next grand jury for possible indictment, and he's scheduled to enter a plea, March 29, in Circuit Court.