An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol into illegal gambling devices has resulted in misdemeanor charges against the local managers of five area convenience stores, according to court records.
The accused, and the charges filed against them, are Aitegeb Y. Semere, 53, possession of a gambling device; Abraham O. Gebreyesus, 43, second-degree promoting gambling; Eseyas H. Berih, 36, second-degree promoting gambling; and Inam Saba, 55, possession of a gambling device. In addition, Resham Pasricha, 34, is listed as the manager of two of the establishments that allegedly have operating gambling devices, and as such is charged with two counts of second-degree promotion of gambling.
On Oct. 20, Sgt. J. Trammell with the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported he went to Snappy Mart No. 49 on Porter Wagoner Boulevard and found 10 gambling devices inside the store, described as video gaming devices with a touch screen.
Trammell commented he inserted cash into one of the devices and played several rounds of a selected game before selecting the “cash out” option, and took a printed ticket to the cashier to be paid in cash.
The investigator said the device allows the player to preview the outcome of the upcoming play, win or lose, and that knowledge allows the player to decide whether or not to continue playing the game but doesn't assist in obtaining a favorable outcome or offer a way to avoid or alter the outcome.
Since the outcome is determined entirely by chance and because the game requires the player to continue to see if the next play is a winner, Trammell reported, the game is one of chance rather than a game of skill and therefore constitutes a gambling device.
Each of the other devices investigated by Trammell is described the same way in probable cause statements submitted to prosecutors. Court records show the same day he also used similar devices at Snappy Mart No. 11 at the junction of north U.S. 63 and Highway 14 and The Saba Shop on Porter Wagoner Boulevard.
On Oct. 25, Trammell made a similar sweep of the devices at Get N Go Mini Mart on North Howell Avenue, the Shamrock gas station on St. Louis Street and Snappy Mart North on Porter Wagoner Boulevard.
Each of the charges is a Class A misdemeanor and each of the defendants was issued a summons for an initial appearance, according to court records.
That is to be April 22 for Berih and April 29 for Semere, Gebreyesus, Saba and Pasricha.
Court records show Pasricha, Berih and Saba have hired attorney Joseph Passanise of Springfield. As of Tuesday afternoon, no attorney is listed for Gebreyesus. A court summons issued March 20 to Semere was The cases are being prosecuted by Howell County Prosecutor Mike Hutchings and Assistant Prosecutor Heath Hardman.
