Columbus County business busted second time in video gambling raid

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) —  A Columbus County business has been raided a second time by law enforcement officers, which resulted in dozens of video gaming machines removed and thousands in cash seized.

Several people were arrested, including three who were recently charged in Bladen County for the same type of crimes.

On March 4, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Vice-Narcotics Unit, along with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team executed a search warrant at the 701 Business Center located at 2388 James B White Highway North in Whiteville.

According to a news release, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office initiated the investigation after receiving numerous citizen complaints concerning the establishment.

During the investigation, undercover agents entered the gaming establishment and played the available video gaming machines. Afterwards, they were given cash payouts for their winnings.

During the search warrant, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office seized approximately $8,000.00 in cash, more than eighty video gaming machines, and approximately ten flat screen televisions.

Inside the business, deputies located Linwood Norfleet Boudreau, Pamela Sibbett Duncan, and Cynthia Dawn Duncan operating the video gaming establishment.

All three were charged with four counts of gambling, four counts of operating video gaming machines, and four counts of operating five or more video gaming machines.

Cynthia Duncan was charged with multiple charges on February 28, when ALE and Bladen County Sheriff’s Office executed warrants at four video gaming establishments in Bladen County.

Daniel James Storie and Danny Storie, the owners/operators of 701 Business Center, were both charged with outstanding warrants for four counts of gambling, four counts of operating video gaming machines, four counts of operating five or more video gaming machines, and one misdemeanor count of electronic sweepstakes. Both were also charged with multiple charges on February 28, in the Bladen County case.

In October 2018, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at the same establishment and seized over 95 video gaming machines and over $27,000.00 in cash.

On February 12, a few weeks before the search warrant was executed, a member of the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office saw a man wearing a tactical vest outside of 701 Business Center.

The man, identified as Julius Rasheem Ellerbe, was serving as a security guard.  He was equipped with a tactical vest, body camera, Taser, and a loaded handgun. Investigators say he could not provide documentation that he held a firearm registration permit and completed the required training course as required by the Board and the Secretary of Public Safety.

Ellerbe is on probation in Richmond County for felony larceny charges. He also had outstanding warrants from Chatham County for failing to appear on speeding and reckless driving to endanger charges.

Columbus County Sheriff’s Office arrested Ellerbe on the outstanding warrants. Ellerbe was then served a criminal summons for failure to be registered and/or have a license to be employed as an armed security guard. Richmond County served Ellerbe for violating his probation conditions.

When the search warrant was executed on March 4, deputies encountered two more men, John Roshan Stanley and Nicholas Alexander McConnell, serving as security guards for the establishment. Neither Stanley nor McConnell are registered and/or licensed to be employed as an armed security guard. Outstanding criminal summons have been issued for them.