08-25-2006MILFORD – A bartender in Milford faces charges after undercover officers discovered she was reportedly assisting with gambling activities at the bar.
Warrants are pending against Lea Richardson, 51, of James Street, Milford, for assisting with the payouts from illegal gambling machines at Bud’s Bar, 132 S. Main St., Milford. She also faces charges for selling alcohol to patrons using the illegal video machines and allowing open containers to leave the bar.
According to the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force, in the past week, undercover officers went to Bud’s Bar and purchased video cards allowing them access to illegal gambling machines in a building next to the bar at 136 S. Main St., Milford.
When officers served a search warrant at the bar, they found the video cards, evidence of payments made for the illegal video machine use and receipts for payouts for gambling.
At 136 S. Main St., officers found the seven video gambling machines that that they received payments from when using the video cards.
Richardson was detained Thursday and told that a warrant will be issued for her arrest.
The investigation of the Bud’s Bar incident will continue and more arrests are expected.
According to a Kosciusko County Drug Task Force officer, undercover officers will continue to investigate illegal gambling in the community as well.
The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and Milford Police Department assisted the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force with the investigation.
Anyone with information about illegal activity in Kosciusko County should contact the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department at 574-267-5667.