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Illegal gambling establishment raided in Odem

Posted at 10:38 PM, Feb 28, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-01 00:22:12-05

Federal and county law enforcement worked jointly to take down an illegal gambling business in Odem this week.

On February 26, 2019, the South Texas Specialized Crimes and Narcotics Task Force (STTF); San Patricio Sheriff’s Department and Nueces County Sheriff’s Department, assisted by, the Homeland Security Investigations Office in Corpus Christi and U.S. Border Patrol Station in Kingsville, Texas; conducted search, seizure and arrest warrants in Kleberg; San Patricio and Nueces Counties.

The warrants were served at a residence in Bishop, Texas; three storage units in Kingsville; a storage unit in Bishop, and an illegal gambling establishment and “payout” business in Odem, San Patricio County, Texas.

Eddy Lee Frost and his wife, Karrian Dear Frost were booked in the county jail charged with multiple violations of state law, including gambling promotion, keeping a gambling place, possession of gambling device, equipment or paraphernalia, and engaging in organized criminal activity.  Other suspects were arrested in Odem, Texas, by the San Patricio Sheriff’s Department on the same violations. All of them face criminal prosecution through the San Patricio County District Attorney’s Office.

The Silver Dollar Game Room in Odem was shut down and officers seized the video gambling machines, ledgers, count sheets, documentary evidence and approximately $17,000.00 dollars in illicit proceeds.  Approximately $18,000.00 dollars was seized from Elco Auctions in Odem which is the alleged payout location.

At the Bishop, Texas, residence, agents seized additional ledgers, count sheets, financial documents and approximately $86,025.00 dollars of illicit proceeds. Additionally, over 42 pounds of silver shot was seized from the Silver Dollar Game Room and Elco Auctions.

Task Force Commander Tom A. Roddy stated, “This case exemplifies how law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions must be able and willing to work together in order to disrupt and dismantle criminal organizations. Specifically, the defendants in this investigation operated illegal gambling establishments in several area counties including San Patricio; ran the illicit businesses from their residence in Bishop, Nueces County, Texas, and conducted financial transactions and stored their slot machines in Kingsville, Kleberg County, Texas.” “The South Texas Task Force has entered into cooperation agreements with several area Sheriff Departments to facilitate these types of joint investigations.”

Commander Roddy told KRIS 6 News that Frosts’ machines were identified in other illegal gambling operation raids going back to 2014.