FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
In January of 2015
the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, Vice/Narcotics Division initiated two
separate investigations involving the operation of gaming devices at two
locations in St. Mary’s County, Maryland.
The first
investigation was initiated on January 21, 2015 when detectives visited the
Patuxent Moose Lodge in Hollywood, MD upon receiving “anonymous” information
regarding the presence of “illegal slot machines.” Detectives quickly dispelled the allegations
by determining the devices were not “slot machines” but were in fact “gaming
devices” which were legal. However, the
investigation revealed the gaming devices were not being operated in accordance
with the St. Mary’s County Gaming
provision and therefore in violation of the statewide provision.
Investigators
discovered Roger Lee Benfield, SR. is the owner of R.E. Enterprises,
Incorporated, a Maryland corporation that provides coin operated amusement
games to retail establishments, and that in 2013 Roger Lee Benfield, SR. and
the Patuxent Moose Lodge entered into an agreement that permitted Roger
Benfield to place five (5) gaming devices within the establishment.
The agreement
permitted the proceeds of the gaming devices to be divided between Roger
Benfield’s company and the Patuxent Moose Lodge with Roger Benfield being
responsible for the maintenance of the gaming devices which required, among
other tasks, collecting money from the devices and ensuring the proper
disbursements to the Patuxent Moose Lodge and to his company.
The gaming
devices, financial records, and other items of evidence were seized from the
Patuxent Moose Lodge pending further investigation. An analysis of the financial documents
revealed from about August of 2013 through January 21, 2015 Roger Benfield
retained approximately $27,987.10 in proceeds from the operation of the gaming
devices. Detectives also uncovered
evidence that suggest Roger Benfield became a member of the Patuxent Moose
Lodge for the sole purpose of giving the appearance of compliance with the criminal statute which requires the gaming
devices to be operated by a member of the qualified organization.
The second
investigation was initiated on January 23, 2015 when detectives visited the
Brass Rail Sports Bar located in Great Mills, MD to investigate the presence of
additional gaming devices that were being operated by Roger Benfield.
Investigators made
contact with Charles Benedict “Dickie” Gatton and Hilda Mae Gatton who own and
operate the establishment. The
investigators also discovered the presence of five (5) gaming devices. An inspection of the devices revealed four of
the devices operated in the same manner as the devices located in the Patuxent
Moose Lodge and one device that functioned as a pull-tab vending machine, both
of which are gaming devices.
The investigation
revealed, in 2008 Charles “Dickie” Gatton entered into an agreement with the
Leonardtown Lions Club that permitted a gaming device to be placed inside the
Brass Rail Sports Bar and the proceeds from the gaming device to be divided
evenly between the Leonardtown Lions Club and the Brass Rail Sports Bar. The device, which was the previously
described pull-tab vending machine, was managed exclusively by Hilda Mae Gatton
and required her, among other tasks, to collect money from the device and
ensure the proper disbursement to the Leonardtown Lions Club and to the Brass
Rails Sports Bar.
All of the gaming
devices were seized from the establishment and additional items of evidence
were obtained by the investigators. An
inspection of those documents revealed from January of 2012 through December of
2014 Hilda Mae Gatton and the Leonardtown Lions Club both received
approximately $24,460.00 in proceeds from the operation of the gaming device.
Furthermore, those same documents and records indicate Charles “Dickie” Gatton and
Roger Benfield both received approximately $109,498.00 from the operation of
the four (4) gaming devices from January of 2012 through December of 2014. With respect to Charles Gatton, it is
believed that he retained approximately $73,892.00 of his share of the proceeds
for personal benefit while giving just
$35,606.00 to the Leonardtown Lions Club.
With respect to Roger Benfield, it is believed he retained his entire
share of the proceeds for personal benefit.
During the course
of the investigation several search and seizure warrants were obtained which
lead to the seizure of gaming devices and more than $129,000.00 in cash from
proceeds of the gaming devices in the possession of Charles (Dickie) and Hilda
Mae Gatton.
In summary, the
investigations revealed Roger Benfield, Charles Gatton, and Hilda Mae Gatton
received portions of the proceeds generated by the gaming devices for personal
benefit. Although the Patuxent Moose
Lodge and the Leonardtown Lions Club are qualified organizations permitted to
operate gaming devices, the proceeds generated from the operation of the gaming
devices were intentionally diverted to the three subjects, contrary to the laws
which require all proceeds to be retained by the organization.
On February 23,
2015, Narcotics detectives applied for charges against Roger Benfield, Charles
Gatton and Hilda Mae Gatton related to this investigation. More specifically, with respect to the
investigation at the Patuxent Moose Lodge, Roger Benfield was charged with one
count of having an interest in a gaming table, one count of keeping a gaming
table at the Patuxent Moose Lodge, and one count of perpetrating a theft scheme
having a value between $10,000.00 and $100,000.00.
With respect to
the investigation at the Brass Rail Sports Bar, Roger Benfield was charged with
one count of having an interest in a gaming table, one count of keeping a
gaming table at the Brass Rail Sports Bar, and one count of perpetrating a
theft scheme having a value more than $100,000.00. Charles “Dickie” Gatton was charged with one
count of having an interest in a gaming table, one count of permitting a gaming
table to be kept at the Brass Rail, and one count of perpetrating a theft
scheme having a value between $10,000.00 and $100,000.00. Hilda Mae Gatton was charged with one count
of having an interest in a gaming table and one count of perpetrating a theft
scheme having a value between $10,000.00 and $100,000.00.
In total, the
gaming devices at the Brass Rail Sports Bar alone generated more than $300,000.00
in gross proceeds, of which the Leonardtown Lions Club received only
$60,000.00. By law, all of the proceeds must be directed to the charity. The
investigation is continuing and detectives will continue to work with the
State’s Attorney’s Office to determine if additional charges and/or arrests
will be made.
Inquiries should be directed
to Captain Daniel D. Alioto, Commander of Vice/Narcotics, at 301-475-4200
x 1918.
