EUTAW, Ala. (AP)
The Greenetrack gambling center was reopening in west Alabama on Wednesday, with operators saying there was no reason not to resume business since court rulings meant a state search that led to its closing was illegal.
John Bolton, an attorney for the Greene County gaming facility, said the state could ask courts for additional warrants, but that hasn't yet happened. "They can't come in now and try to raid without a warrant," he said.
Greenetrack had 850 electronic bingo machines before a raid by then-Gov. Bob Riley's gambling task force in July 2010. Riley contended the machines were illegal slots and seized them.
Greenetrack reopened in March and the state served a search warrant on June 1, but a judge later determined authorities lacked probable cause to go through the business, which operators say is run by Greene County E-911 and other nonprofit organizations.
A statement by Greenetrack operators accused Attorney General Luther Strange's office of misleading a court to get the warrant used in the June search and said no court has ever ruled electronic bingo illegal in Greene County. The judge who issued the warrant later ordered the state to return machines that were seized by officers.
The Alabama Supreme Court issued a stay of that order in August. The machines have not been returned to Greenetrack, according to Bolton.
Bolton said about 300 to 350 machines were seized. He said Greenetrack brought in about 50 new machines in order to resume electronic bingo Wednesday. He said the new machines are the same as the ones seized earlier this year.
In a statement, Strange's office said: "We trust that Greenetrack will abide by Alabama law, and if they do not, appropriate law enforcement action will be taken."
Separately, Greenetrack is fighting the state's attempt to collect $61.8 million in taxes and $13.7 million in interest for sales taxes not paid on electronic bingo proceeds from 2004 through 2008. In court document, accountants for the facility list its total assets at $15.75 million — or about one-fifth of what the state government says it owes.
Greenetrack is about 35 miles southwest of Tuscaloosa.
John Bolton, an attorney for the Greene County gaming facility, said the state could ask courts for additional warrants, but that hasn't yet happened. "They can't come in now and try to raid without a warrant," he said.
Greenetrack had 850 electronic bingo machines before a raid by then-Gov. Bob Riley's gambling task force in July 2010. Riley contended the machines were illegal slots and seized them.
Greenetrack reopened in March and the state served a search warrant on June 1, but a judge later determined authorities lacked probable cause to go through the business, which operators say is run by Greene County E-911 and other nonprofit organizations.
A statement by Greenetrack operators accused Attorney General Luther Strange's office of misleading a court to get the warrant used in the June search and said no court has ever ruled electronic bingo illegal in Greene County. The judge who issued the warrant later ordered the state to return machines that were seized by officers.
The Alabama Supreme Court issued a stay of that order in August. The machines have not been returned to Greenetrack, according to Bolton.
Bolton said about 300 to 350 machines were seized. He said Greenetrack brought in about 50 new machines in order to resume electronic bingo Wednesday. He said the new machines are the same as the ones seized earlier this year.
In a statement, Strange's office said: "We trust that Greenetrack will abide by Alabama law, and if they do not, appropriate law enforcement action will be taken."
Separately, Greenetrack is fighting the state's attempt to collect $61.8 million in taxes and $13.7 million in interest for sales taxes not paid on electronic bingo proceeds from 2004 through 2008. In court document, accountants for the facility list its total assets at $15.75 million — or about one-fifth of what the state government says it owes.
Greenetrack is about 35 miles southwest of Tuscaloosa.
http://onlineblackjackskills.com Really a good information.This helps me lot.Thanks for sharing
ReplyDelete