Southern Comfort Restaurant and Lounge in Dekalb County Raided In Gambling Bust

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- Unsuspecting players and a business owner were caught red-handed during a gambling bust at a DeKalb County restaurant, police said.

Undercover Dekalb County police officers said they had been visiting the Southe Comfort Restaurant and Lounge on Cedar Grove Road for months prior to the raid.

”We’ve won over $100 before. We’ve won $10 before, and we’ve also talked with the owners, and we know they know what’s going on, said DeKalb police Lt. A.T. Mears.

Officers barged into the restaurant while a number of patrons played on what appeared to be gambling machines Friday. One patron denied participating.

”I ain’t got no money from here. I don’t even hardly ever come up here, she told GA Daily News reporter Eric Philips.

Philips confronted business owner George Jones, asking if there was any gambling at his restaurant.

”I hope not, Jones replied.

But police showed Philips receipts detailing payouts, some in the hundreds of dollars, and a kitty from which the payouts were allegedly made. When Philips questioned Jones again, he had a different answer.

”I don’t have nothing to say, Jones told Philips.

Jones also denied that the machines behind the counter were used for illegal payouts. He said they kept track of food orders and prizes.

Police said cash payouts of more than $5 dollars are not only illegal, but they feed a habit that could lead to more crime.

”It’s a high, and they need that fix and then they start stealing money to come gamble, Mears said.

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