MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The Jackson Avenue Mapco gas station was a part of an illegal gambling operation that increased crime and the Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy says he has the data to prove it.

Mulroy says the gas station saw around 200 calls for service in the past two years as MPD responded to calls like carjackings, assaults, robberies, and much more.

The gas station is now on notice, the machines have been removed and it could be shut down as a nuisance if the gambling operation continues. But this wasn’t the only one.

According to the DA, the West Tennessee Drug Taskforce seized machines from 5 locations across Shelby County and a few locations received charges of money laundering.

The drug task force says these illegal gambling machines are becoming increasingly common. Just this week the DTF says one-third of all locations they checked this week had illegal gambling machines.

At least $15,000 has been recovered and the DA says he needs business owners to understand that any machine that you have to put money in to potentially profit from is illegal in Tennessee.

Mulroy also says if anyone had any form of gambling machines they could face prosecution.

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