HSV Entertainment LLC Agrees To No Longer Supply Internet Sweepstakes At The Roanoke Rapids Theater

RALEIGH – United States Attorney Thomas G. Walker announced that today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reached a non-prosecution agreement with HSV Entertainment LLC.  The agreement provides that the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina will close its criminal investigation of HSV, conditioned upon HSV’s agreement that it will no longer have any involvement with sweepstakes in North Carolina involving an entertaining display.  HSV has had a lease with the City of Roanoke Rapids to operate the Roanoke Rapids Theater.  The primary purpose of the lease was to operate an entertainment venue, including concerts and other shows.  In addition, HSV also operated pre-reveal internet sweepstakes games.  It will terminate its operation of the theater effective May 18, 2015.  The City Attorney for Roanoke Rapids has informed the U.S. Attorney’s Office that it will no longer allow sweepstakes devices back in the theater after HSV leaves.  Investigation of this matter was conducted by North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement and the Internal Revenue Service in coordination with Assistant United States Attorneys David Bragdon and Joshua Royster.