Gambling operation in Lily raided

 A Corbin man has been cited to court for promoting gambling after Laurel County Sheriff John Root and his deputies raided a gambling parlor on U.S. 25 Friday afternoon, seizing more than 20 video poker machines.

Sixty-five-year-old Freddie Russell was cited for one count of second-degree promoting gambling, a class A misdemeanor under Kentucky Law. Russell is to appear in Laurel District Court on July 18.

“He cooperated with us and he is not a flight risk,” Deputy Gilbert Acciardo said when asked why Russell was cited to court instead of arrested.

Acciardo said multiple complaints had come into the sheriff’s office concerning the possible gambling operation at a new business called, “Absolute Auction.” The business is located across from Tri-County Cycle next to a former medical office building.

About 2 p.m. Root and his deputies pulled up and went inside.

“It was a public place with the door standing wide open,” Acciardo said

Acciardo said the machines were arrayed throughout and there were two poker tables. Several hundred dollars in cash were seized from the machines.

“It had only been in operation a couple of days,” Acciardo said.

Even though the sign promoted an auction house, Acciardo said there was no pretense of an auction business inside.

“He did not make any statement to us concerning why he thought he could run a gambling operation like this,” Acciardo said, adding that Russell admitted he was responsible.

Under Kentucky Law, a class A misdemeanor carries a potential jail sentence of one year and a fine of up to $500.