United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

FEDERAL GRAND JURY IN AMARILLO RETURNS INDICTMENTS IN
ILLEGAL GAMBLING / OBSTRUCTION / BRIBERY SCHEME

AMARILLO, Tx. — A federal grand jury returned two indictments today that charge six individuals with maintaining an illegal gambling business, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. In addition, some of the defendants are also charged with obstruction and bribery, and four are charged with money laundering.

In one indictment, Amarillo residents, Curtis Leon Fowler, Billy Ralph Black, Melody Skelton Massey and Margaret Ruth Glasscock, are each charged with maintaining an illegal eight-liner gambling business and money laundering. Fowler and Black are also charged with obstruction of state or local law enforcement. Fowler, 73, and Black, 68, were arrested earlier this month when law enforcement raided their business in Amarillo, on charges in a federal criminal complaint. Both Fowler and Black appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge who released them on bond. Summons to appear will be issued for Massey, 59, and Glasscock, 59.

The indictment alleges that from February 2007 until July 3, 2007, Fowler, Black, Massey and Glasscock owned all or part of an eight-liner gambling business, located at 3510 SE 11th and 337 E. Hastings, in Amarillo. Eight-liners are slot machines that get their name from the eight different ways a player can win on each play. The indictment further alleges that Fowler and Black paid Tommy Passmore, the Chief Investigator for the Potter County Attorney’s Office, a total of more than $13,000 in bribes and kickbacks for such things as preventing their businesses from being raided, threatening to raid a competitor’s eight-liner business, and shutting down a competitor’s business.

The money laundering count in that indictment alleges that the defendants conducted financial transactions by depositing cash derived from illegal gambling proceeds to facilitate the ongoing gambling operation and legitimize the currency derived from this illegal operation. Between January 3, 2005 and July 3, 2007, the defendants deposited approximately $184,420 in cash from the illegal gambling operation in Amarillo National Bank.

Each count of maintaining an illegal gambling business, obstruction of state or local law enforcement, and obstructions of criminal investigations by bribery carries a maximum statutorysentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Each money laundering count carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison and a $500,000 fine.

If convicted on all counts, Fowler and Black each face a maximum statutory sentence of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Massey and Glasscock each face a maximum statutory sentence of 25 years in prison and a $750,000 fine.

In the other indictment, Johnny Earl Shannon and Jerry Don Bone are each charged with one count of maintaining an illegal gambling business, obstruction of state or local law enforcement, and obstruction of a criminal investigation by bribery. Shannon was also arrested earlier this month when law enforcement raided his business in Amarillo on charges in a federal criminal complaint. He appeared before a U.S. Magistrate Judge who released him on bond. It is anticipated that an initial appearance for Bone will be scheduled by the Court within the next week.

According to this indictment from May 2007 until July 3, 2007, Shannon, 59, owned an eight-liner gambling business located at 2825 S. Western Street in Amarillo, and Jerry Bone, 47, managed its day-to-day operations. On May 1, 2007, Shannon promised Tommy Passmore a percentage of the proceeds from the gambling business if he would keep the business from being raided by law enforcement. Later, on one occasion Shannon paid Passmore $1500, and on another occasion, $1000, to keep the eight-liner business from being raided or provide a warning in advance of any raid.

If convicted on all counts, Johnny Earl Shannon and Jerry Don Bone each face a maximum statutory sentence of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.

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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