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3 people, possibly more to face criminal charges after 'out of compliance' game room shut down near Vidor

Detective Havard says they see drugs come in and out, prostitution, money laundering and also burglaries and thefts.

VIDOR, Texas — Deputies and officials from Orange County shut down a Vidor game room on Wednesday for being "out of compliance."

Orange County detectives launched an investigation into "engaging in organized criminal activity" after visiting a north Vidor game room for a "compliance check" according to a news release from the sheriff's office.  

Detectives visited the Double Diamond Game Room in the 5300 block of North Main on Wednesday.

While there detectives noticed that the game room was "out of compliance with several portions of the Orange County gaming regulations ordinance" as well as state law the release said.

MORE | Ordinance regulating game rooms in Orange County

Some, but not all, of the violations included...

  • Clerk not wearing a name tag
  • Clerk failed to sign in to log book
  • Some employees failed to complete a required county application
  • Building not properly marked
  • Windows uncovered

Orange County Sherriff's Office Detective Colton Havard says narcotics detectives seized an mount of US currency and other evidence that will be used in the investigation. 

Detectives plan to press forward, looking at other rooms to see if they are in violation of their many rules, like employees not wearing a name tag, or tinted windows.

"In this case there will be three people who will be facing criminal charges in the future. However it is an ongoing investigation and it may reveal more people," he said. 

Detective Havard says they see drugs come in and out, prostitution, money laundering and also burglaries and thefts.

"You know a lot of these people don't have a jobs when they go to these game room and they want to feed that habit," he said. 

This habit can cause people to pay a hefty fine or even jail time, according to Attorney Bruce Smith. 

"Instead of charging someone with keeping a gambling place, which is a class a misdemeanor. They will charge the person with organized criminal activity, which is a state jail felony," Smith said. 

Deputies are "committed to ridding Orange County of these crime-attracting establishments" according to the release. They encourage owners to be knowledgeable of the rules. 

"I would encourage anyone to who owns a game room, maintains a game room or goes to a game room, to know what the rules are," Havard said.

This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.

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