After getting complaints from residents about losing thousands of dollars, law enforcement shut down an illegal gambling game at the Stone County Fair in Mountain View last week and arrested the game’s operator. Fifty-two-year-old Donald Patrick Tompkins of Alvin, Texas is facing several charges in connection with the game.
According to the probable cause affidavit in the case, the Stone County Sheriff’s Office received multiple complaints about the game at the fair. Many said they had lost an extensive amount of money with several saying they had lost thousands of dollars. Victims report Tompkins enticed them to keep playing by offering large cash returns and flashing large rolls of cash.
The game was called “Razzle”. Investigators discovered the game sometimes is found at fairs and carnivals. The United States Department of Justice has many studies about the scam. The game has vague, complicated rules with a conversion chart used to distract the player and getting them to double their bets and lose more money.
Investigators sent an undercover officer to the fair to play the game. While playing the game, detectives conducted surveillance and noticed a truck parked next to the game with a Texas license plate. The plate returned to Tompkins. They also learned Tompkins has multiple felony convictions out of New York, Florida, Michigan and Wisconsin including intentionally causing bodily harm to a child and for illegal drugs.
Tompkins is charged in Stone County with a felony count of keeping a gambling house, a misdemeanor charge of having a gaming device and for being a habitual offender.
He is free after posting $40,000 bond.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI