Scotland County, North Carolina — According to The City of Laurinburg, two individuals were arrested and one is wanted as a result of a video gambling machine operations investigation conducted by the Laurinburg Police Department in collaboration with the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division.
Three search warrants were executed on Friday in connection with the incident, the first of which was at a smoke store at 101 North Man Street. Arafat Abuhammoud was arrested at this site and charged with felony running a video gaming machine (second offense), gambling, possessing/operating a slot machine, and manufacturing/selling a slot machine.
The second and third warrants were served at the Laurinburg Food Market and Laurinburg Laundry Xpress, both on Produce Market Road. Amran Hussein was arrested and charged with felony operation of a video gaming machine, felony conspiracy, gambling, possessing/operating a slot machine, manufacturing/selling a slot machine, and permitting activity on licensed premises.
After issuing fresh search warrants, police are now hunting for a third suspect, Waddah Ashif. He is wanted on similar allegations from this incident.
Abuhammoud is being held at the Scotland County Detention Center while awaiting confirmation of his immigration status. Hussein is also being jailed here under a $4,000 bond.
Overall, the inquiry resulted in the confiscation of significant amounts of US dollars, guns, and video gaming machine motherboards, according to officials.
The Laurinburg Police Department reminds those who operate gaming machines to follow the state’s laws, as outlined in North Carolina General Statutes, Chapter 14, Article 37.
