Charges Dropped For Most In Illinois Poker Bust

The attorney in charge of prosecuting a poker bust in Illinois has decided to drop the charges against nearly all of the participants in the game, releasing eleven people but deciding to push misdemeanor charges against the two alleged ringleaders.

Acting on complaints in January, Champaign police conducted what was stated at the time a “peaceful” raid on an establishment in the city. After gaining entrance into the establishment by simply walking in the door, police found a gathering of the thirteen people eventually charged as they allegedly were preparing for a poker tournament. While issuing the participants citations, the police also confiscated $3000 in cash, poker tables, cards, chips, two televisions and ledgers that allegedly contained information as to past actions of the game.

When those charged came to court last week, Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz decided not to prosecute eleven of the participants in the tournament, according to an article in the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette written by Mary Schenk. “We felt it was appropriate to address those running the illegal operation as opposed to those who may have been playing but were not aware what they were doing was illegal,” Schenk quotes Rietz as saying on Thursday, the day that all the defendants were in court. Two of the people charged, however, weren’t let off the hook.

Charges of keeping a gambling place and running a game of chance were filed against Brian Swinford of Hoopeston and Scott Pettigrew of Danville. Those two men, according to Rietz, were allegedly the operators of the home poker game. If they are convicted, they face a fine of up to $2500 and/or a maximum of 364 days in jail. The twosome is expected back in court on March 16 to face the charges.

Schenk also reports that the original statements by police that the raid was “peaceful” have been over-exaggerated, according to those who were participating in the tournament. One of those who had his charges dropped, Thomas Schrepfer, stated that police came in with guns drawn and roughed up some of those arrested that night. “Here are eleven hard-working, peaceful citizens and in they come with their guns pointed at us,” Schenk quotes Schrepfer as saying.

“What are they doing raiding a $30 poker game with guns drawn and putting people in handcuffs, including a very nice lady who comes and cooks us a nice dinner,” he continued. “They cuffed her in such a way as to leave bruises and marks on her wrists. That’s what got me upset.”

For their part, the authorities have stated that they used their SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) for such situations. As to the usage of guns, Lt. Michael Paulus of the Champaign Police Department said that they entered in that manner because “we don’t know what’s on the other side of that door.”

Schenk quotes Lt. Paulus as saying, “We’ve been in gambling raids where there have been weapons and narcotics. Because officers are looking to be safe, we go in, secure the situation, we contain everybody where they are so we don’t have anybody moving around. History has been that it’s better for us to err on the side of caution.” According to previous reports, a handgun and marijuana were also found during the police search following the raid. Paulus also stated that, following the issuance of the citations, people were allowed to leave and no one was arrested that night.

This didn’t appease Schrepfer, however. “Someone on the city council needs to know that people’s lives were put at risk with guns drawn.” He also was critical of the state government and its hypocrisy regarding gambling, saying to Schenk, “Putting your money down for a one in a million shot at the Lotto is gambling. Sitting across the table in an intellectual and psychological contest with your friends and neighbors – that’s poker.”