Anthony R. Gier of Eldon faces a total of eight felony charges of first degree promoting gambling by Missouri State Attorney General Catherine Hanaway.
The charges stem from April undercover operations by the Missouri State Highway Patrol at Eagle Stop Convenience Stores in Lake Ozark and Columbia.
According to information in the probable cause statement, Gier is owner/manager of the stores and the only member of the board of directors for the business.
Related to an April 13 undercover investigation at the Bagnell Eagle Stop, Gier has been summoned to appear Wednesday, June 10 in the Miller County Associate Circuit Court, before Judge Jon Kaltenbronn.
In this case he faces four Class E felony charges of promoting gambling with illegal gambling devices in the business.
Related to an April 14 undercover investigation at the Eagle Stop Convenience Store on Providence Road in Columbia, Gier has been summoned to appear June 26 in the Boone County Associate Circuit Court before Judge Jayne Pearman.
In this case he faces four Class E felony charges of promoting gambling with illegal gambling devices in the business.
According to the Attorney General’s office, each of the charges are Class E felonies. Per state statute, penalties, per count are one to four years in prison, one year in a county jail, or a fine of up to $10,000.
Further, if money or property has been gained through the commission of the crime, fines can be up to double the amount of the offender’s gain from commission of the crime.
Probable cause
for Lake Ozark store
According to the probable cause statement from the Bagnell Eagle Stop case, four felony charges stem from an April 13 undercover operation by the Missouri State Highway patrol using a video/audio recording device.
The Highway Patrol investigator stated they were investigating a complaint received of illegal gambling devices inside the store.
Upon entry to the store they located four illegal gambling machines. They were turned on and appeared to be operating.
“I selected a gambling device and inserted $35 in cash into the machine. I selected a game and determined the betting increments included 30 cents, 60 cents, 90 cents, $1.20, $1.50 and $1.80. I then played several rounds, beginning with the 90 cent bet increment,” the investigator reported.
Eventually the investigator made the decision to cash out at $122 and seize the corresponding cash as evidence.
“I then hit the large ‘ticket’ button on the machine with $122 in credit. The illegal gambling device generated a ticket with a QR code reflecting the $122 in cash. I took the ticket to the payout kiosk, scanned the QR code and the kiosk dispensed $122 in cash.”
The investigator reported they did not observe any obvious pre-reveal function (preview/prize-viewer button) on the illegal gambling machine. Therefore, the device appeared to function as a straight slot machine.
A search warrant was then executed May 11 at the store for the seizure of four illegal gambling machines and the payout kiosk.
Total amount of cash inside the four machines and payout kiosk was $16,107.
“An interview conducted at the store at the time of the search warrant indicated Anthony R. ‘Tony’ Gier was most responsible for ownership of the store.”
The State of Missouri and the Attorney General’s Office has also petitioned for the forfeiture of the four gambling machines, kiosk and cash under the Criminal Activity Forfeiture Act.
Probable cause
for Columbia store
According to the probable cause statement, four felony charges stem from an April 14 undercover operation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, using a video/audio recording device.
The operation took place at the Eagle Stop Convenience Store on North Providence Road in Columbia, with illegal gambling devices found inside the business.
At approximately 10:42 a.m. the officer entered the convenience store and located four electronic gambling devices and one electronic kiosk.
“I inserted $10 in cash money into one of the gambling devices, selected the game “Farm Rush” and played several rounds. I pressed the collect button and cashed out with $6 in cash money credit,” the investigator stated.
“I received a printed ticket from the device and scanned the ticket on an electronic kiosk located next to the gambling devices. I received $6 in cash money for the amount displayed on the ticket.”
The statement said the device they played at the convenience store did not contain a pre-reveal icon on the screen (prize viewer) which a player can press to preview the outcome of the upcoming play (win or lose). Rather, the device they played operated as a conventional straight slot style device.
After investigating the devices located in the convenience store, it was the investigator’s belief they constitute a gambling device, described as any device, machine, paraphernalia or equipment that is used or usable in the playing phases of any gambling activity.
The managing officer of the convenience store was identified through records received from the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control as Anthony R. Gier.
Link to Attorney General Catherine Hanaway's Press Release....
