A Chesapeake man will face a preliminary trial this week in connection with the illegal operation of a gambling house in Ironton.

Wednesday, September 13, 2000

A Chesapeake man will face a preliminary trial this week in connection with the illegal operation of a gambling house in Ironton.

Ronald Rex Young II, 52, of 619 Second Ave., Chesapeake, was arrested Friday, Sept. 1, after officials received an anonymous tip, Ironton police Detective Captain Chris Bowman said.

"We received word of a possible gambling operation in town on Aug. 31," Bowman said. "We began an investigation and executed a search warrant on Friday, Sept. 1. The operation was taking place in a building located at 1921 S. Third St. in Ironton."

He said the warrant was issued after several undercover officers gambled in the Third Street operation.

"The operation had a big sign out front that identified the business as ‘Instant Tips,’" he said. "Prior to the warrant, we sent two undercover officers into the establishment. They gambled with machines inside the building and were able to ascertain that the establishment was in fact a gambling operation."

He said following the report of the undercover officers, a search warrant was issued.

"During the search warrant, several video gambling machines and/or devices were confiscated along with a significant amount of cash," Bowman said. "Basically, an individual would go inside the establishment and put money into a slot machine and take a chance at winning cash money. By law, that constitutes gambling. There were also several other games involved."

He said Young was arraigned on Sept. 5, following the Labor Day weekend and would face a preliminary hearing on Thursday.

"He is being charged with operating a gambling house," he said. "It is a misdemeanor of the first degree and if he is convicted, he faces a maximum of up to six months in jail and/or a maximum $1,000 fine."