United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

AMARILLO, TEXAS RESIDENTS PLEAD GUILTY IN EIGHT-LINER CASES

AMARILLO, Tx. — Billy Ralph Black, Melody Skelton Massey, Margaret Ruth Glasscock and Johnny Earl Shannon entered guilty pleas yesterday before U.S. District Judge Mary Lou Robinson in federal court in Amarillo to charges related to maintaining an illegal gambling business, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas.

Curtis Leon Fowler, Billy Ralph Black, Melody Skelton Massey and Margaret Ruth Glasscock were each charged in a federal indictment returned last month in Amarillo. Yesterday, Black, 68, pled guilty to one count of maintaining an illegal gambling business and aiding and abetting. Both Massey and Glasscock, each 59, pled guilty to a misprision of a felony. In late July, Fowler, 73, also pled guilty to maintaining an illegal gambling business and aiding and abetting

In a separate case, Johnny Earl Shannon, who was also indicted by a federal grand jury last month in Amarillo, pled guilty to operating an illegal gambling business and aiding and abetting. His co-defendant in that case, Jerry Don Bone, is set to go on trial in Amarillo on September 11, 2007.

Black and Shannon each face a maximum statutory sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Massey and Glasscock each face a maximum statutory sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine. All four defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge Robinson on November 5, 2007. Curtis Leon Fowler is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2007.

According to documents filed in Court, from February 2007 and continuing until July 3, 2007, Curtis Leon Fowler, Billy Ralph Black, Melody Skelton Massey, and Margaret Ruth Glasscock, aided and abetted by each other, and others, conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed and owned all or part of an illegal gambling business that involved maintaining Eight-liner slot machines.

Defendants Fowler and Black were partial owners of illegal gambling businesses at 3510 SE 11th and 337 E. Hastings in Amarillo. Margaret Ruth Glasscock was half owner of the operation at

1337 E. Hastings. Black, Massey and Glasscock picked up money from the Eight-liner operations at 337 E. Hastings and 3510 SE 11th every day. Black, Fowler, Massey, and Glasscock shared in the proceeds from the two businesses and some of the income from the illegal businesses was stored at Stout Safe Storage, 2300 W. 7th, Amarillo, Texas.

Shannon admitted that he and co-defendant Jerry Don Bone, conducted, financed, managed, supervised, directed and owned all or part of an illegal gambling business at 2825 S. Western Street in Amarillo. That business, which opened in late May 2007 and remained in operation until July 3, 2007, was owned by Shannon and Bone. Bone managed the business.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Potter County Attorney’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christly L. Drake of the Amarillo, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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