Press release from the Buncombe County District Attorney’s office:
On Friday, April 10, 2015, Sheriff Van Duncan and District Attorney Todd Williams conducted a press conference to announce the commencement of Operation Bluenote, a cooperative effort of the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Department, the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement agency, and all other law enforcement agencies in Buncombe County. Operation Bluenote was a countywide effort targeted at shutting down illegal sweepstakes gambling in Buncombe County. On May 11, 2015 a Buncombe County grand jury issued indictments charging two Georgia gaming promoters and a local store owner with operating illegal sweepstakes machines. On May 13, 2015 Sheriff’s deputies and A.L.E. agents seized a number of machines related to those charges. Other vendors quickly removed their games from Buncombe County locations. Since that time, no video sweepstakes machines have been found operating openly in Buncombe County.
Subsequent to these charges and seizures, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security opened an investigation into illegal sweepstakes operations in Buncombe County and their connections to several Georgia corporations. On August 12, 2015 the evidence seized in Operation Bluenote was turned over to that Federal investigation. Concurrently, and in light of the interstate jurisdiction of Federal authorities, the State of North Carolina, by and through the District Attorney’s Office, chose to dismiss all charges in favor of the Federal inquiry. This successfully closed the books on Operation Bluenote.
District Attorney Todd Williams said: “Assistant District Attorney Alex Bass logged countless hours coordinating this campaign in collaboration with law enforcement, expert witnesses and local business owners. Operation Bluenote’s success serves to provide notice to local businesses and individuals that the law will be enforced and that unregulated sweepstakes gaming in North Carolina is illegal and prohibited.”
The task now, according to Sheriff Duncan, is to keep the illegal sweepstakes operators out. “Our deputies, along with other law enforcement, will be watching for any re-emergence of illegal sweepstakes machines. We encourage the public to contact the Sheriff’s Office if they see illegal sweepstakes or any other gambling machines being operated anywhere in Buncombe County. We intend to continue with our enforcement campaign of seizing these machines with their proceeds and pursuing criminal charges with the individuals associated with their operation,” said Sheriff Van Duncan.
The District Attorney’s Office is in agreement with this policy, and ADA Alex Bass adds that “While the District Attorney’s Office will not give advice as on the legality of particular sweepstakes machines. If you are a local business owner and need legal advice on this issue, we recommend that you contact an attorney who represents you and your interests exclusively.”
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