SC

Agents Raid “Sweepstakes” Owner

Federal and state law enforcement officials executed a raid on the Richland County, S.C. home of video “sweepstakes” machine operator LW Flynn, according to WIS TV 10 (NBC – Columbia, S.C.) reporter Jody Barr. “I saw the FBI, SLED and IRS executing a search warrant on LW Flynn’s home,” Barr…

Federal and state law enforcement officials executed a raid on the Richland County, S.C. home of video “sweepstakes” machine operator LW Flynn, according to WIS TV 10 (NBC – Columbia, S.C.) reporter Jody Barr.

“I saw the FBI, SLED and IRS executing a search warrant on LW Flynn’s home,” Barr wrote on his Facebook page. “Agents searched two vehicles and had what appeared to be at least one gambling device torn apart in the garage of Flynn’s Eastbranch Road home.”

According to our sources, the raid was one of several conducted today by state and federal law enforcement agents in Lexington County.

Flynn is the owner of “Magic Minutes,” which operates video “sweepstakes” game that South Carolina lawmakers have been trying to eliminate as part of their efforts to preserve the state’s monopoly on gambling.

Last week he was arrested in Spartanburg County in connection with the machines – the first arrest made since S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley signed a law tightening the language of the state’s ban on video poker.

For those of you unfamiliar with the difference, sweepstakes machines sell items (most commonly long distance phone cards) prior to offering users the opportunity to win prizes via some sort of game – not unlike how McDonald’s sells french fries prior to offering diners a chance to win prizes via its Monopoly game.

Video poker machines, on the other hand, have no “point of purchase” associated with them – they’re purely games of chance.

As we’ve noted on numerous previous occasions we find all of these crackdowns deplorable. We believe the state should legalize all forms of gambling, which would not only end the hypocrisy of “anti-gambling” politicians like Haley – but create tens of thousands of jobs for our tourism economy.

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26 comments

Batman May 1, 2013 at 2:33 pm

Little birds are saying that SLED is at the South Congaree Town Hall/Police Department as well. This informtion ties in with Flynn/Frazier/Amidio

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Batman May 1, 2013 at 2:33 pm

Little birds are saying that SLED is at the South Congaree Town Hall/Police Department as well. This informtion ties in with Flynn/Frazier/Amidio

Reply
Smirks May 1, 2013 at 2:35 pm

If they’d allow a legal form of it and just taxed it, we wouldn’t have these shady operations going on and having to piss away tax dollars breaking them up to no avail.

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SMH May 1, 2013 at 4:44 pm

really? if the legislature would just legalize illegal stuff then people wouldn’t break laws?! maybe people should just be law-abiding citizens.

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Right May 1, 2013 at 7:32 pm

Like FITS said, the state wants to keep its monopoly on gambling – the “education lottery.” If they legalized it, they’d have competition. I wonder if the tax revenue they’d make from legalizing and taxing gambling would offset any losses the state gambling monopoly would take as a result. Might even bring in more revenue.

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Smirks May 1, 2013 at 2:35 pm

If they’d allow a legal form of it and just taxed it, we wouldn’t have these shady operations going on and having to piss away tax dollars breaking them up to no avail.

Reply
SMH May 1, 2013 at 4:44 pm

really? if the legislature would just legalize illegal stuff then people wouldn’t break laws?! maybe people should just be law-abiding citizens.

Reply
Right May 1, 2013 at 7:32 pm

Like FITS said, the state wants to keep its monopoly on gambling – the “education lottery.” If they legalized it, they’d have competition. I wonder if the tax revenue they’d make from legalizing and taxing gambling would offset any losses the state gambling monopoly would take as a result. Might even bring in more revenue.

Reply
Teddy May 1, 2013 at 2:52 pm

OMG, that is so scary! I bet those machines were going to kill some people.

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Smirks May 1, 2013 at 3:26 pm

Well, video poker machines used to hang around dumpy gas stations before they were made entirely illegal, so who’s surprised? :P

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Teddy May 1, 2013 at 2:52 pm

OMG, that is so scary! I bet those machines were going to kill some people.

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Smirks May 1, 2013 at 3:26 pm

Well, video poker machines used to hang around dumpy gas stations before they were made entirely illegal, so who’s surprised? :P

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Blackjack Adams May 1, 2013 at 2:59 pm

Situation according to WISTV is as follows: Former assistant solicitor and candidate for sheriff (ultimately won by a former drug agent) is married to a former K-9 officer allegedly operates an illegal video sweepstakes enterprise from his Lexington County home which happens to be the same county where an illegal gambling ring is supposedly under investigation. On the list of suspects in that reported investigation is a town councilman, a police chief, mayor of a neighboring county and possibly even a sheriff? My only question is this, was the lawyer shown in the video the same person who once ran the state police force? Damn, this is confusing but it certainly suggests that the rumors of police protection could be true. One thing is certain, once the IRS gets on the trail, somebody is going to the pokey or pay a huge fine. Just ask Billy Joe.

Reply
Blackjack Adams May 1, 2013 at 2:59 pm

Situation according to WISTV is as follows: Former assistant solicitor and candidate for sheriff (ultimately won by a former drug agent) is married to a former K-9 officer allegedly operates an illegal video sweepstakes enterprise from his Lexington County home which happens to be the same county where an illegal gambling ring is supposedly under investigation. On the list of suspects in that reported investigation is a town councilman, a police chief, mayor of a neighboring county and possibly even a sheriff? My only question is this, was the lawyer shown in the video the same person who once ran the state police force? Damn, this is confusing but it certainly suggests that the rumors of police protection could be true. One thing is certain, once the IRS gets on the trail, somebody is going to the pokey or pay a huge fine. Just ask Billy Joe.

Reply
AsianSuperfly May 1, 2013 at 3:45 pm

Flynn lives in Richland County.

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AsianSuperfly May 1, 2013 at 3:45 pm

Flynn lives in Richland County.

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jimlewisowb May 1, 2013 at 4:42 pm

Been over 9 months since the story first broke about the Frazier “tapes”

Even if Flynn were a blind, deaf, brain dead quadruple amputee don’t you think by now he would have been able to get rid of any incriminating documentation

Hell, rabbits fuck and have babies every 31 days

Maybe if Investigators backed off the BBQ, Ribs and Bud Light for more lettuce and cabbage they could fuck faster and produce evidence sooner

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shifty henry May 1, 2013 at 5:21 pm

Here’s your evidence……and isn’t it interesting that Nikki is out -of -state

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Fonz May 1, 2013 at 6:26 pm

Yep! and SLED sat on the tape and all info for months without raising a finger. The FEDS had affidavits for years. The Prostitution ring was busted in 2004 and the clients list ( rumored to have high officials names) was covered up quicker than a cat covers shit!

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Soft Sigh from Hell May 1, 2013 at 6:43 pm

I can’t believe someone hasn’t spilled the clients list yet.

Reply
jimlewisowb May 1, 2013 at 4:42 pm

Been over 9 months since the story first broke about the Frazier “tapes”

Even if Flynn were a blind, deaf, brain dead quadruple amputee don’t you think by now he would have been able to get rid of any incriminating documentation

Hell, rabbits fuck and have babies every 31 days

Maybe if Investigators backed off the BBQ, Ribs and Bud Light for more lettuce and cabbage they could fuck faster and produce evidence sooner

Reply
shifty henry May 1, 2013 at 5:21 pm

Here’s your evidence……and isn’t it interesting that Nikki is out -of -state

Reply
Fonz May 1, 2013 at 6:26 pm

Yep! and SLED sat on the tape and all info for months without raising a finger. The FEDS had affidavits for years. The Prostitution ring was busted in 2004 and the clients list ( rumored to have high officials names) was covered up quicker than a cat covers shit!

Reply
Soft Sigh from Hell May 1, 2013 at 6:43 pm

I can’t believe someone hasn’t spilled the clients list yet.

Reply
I SEE U 2 May 2, 2013 at 8:30 pm

When will Federal Agents raid Bobby Harrell’s home and other office locations? Hmmmmm?

Reply
I SEE U 2 May 2, 2013 at 8:30 pm

When will Federal Agents raid Bobby Harrell’s home and other office locations? Hmmmmm?

Reply

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