Bladen County North Carolina Raids

Former deputy Steven Ray Lovin, of Lumberton, is charged with: two counts of gambling, two counts of operating video gaming machines, two counts of possession of five or more video gaming machines, one count of promote, operate, or conduct a server based game, one count of possessing illegal gaming terminals, and one count of operating electronic sweepstakes.

Lovin’s bail is set at $50,000.

In May 2008, Lovin was sentenced as part of a nearly six-year state and federal investigation into corruption in the Sheriff’s Office, known as Operation Tarnished Badge. Glenn Maynor, who was Robeson County’s sheriff, was among the lawmen charged with crimes. The investigation exposed his deputies’ involvement with drug dealers, and the crimes spelled out in indictments included kidnapping, beating and robbing drug dealers, arson and stealing money during drug stops on the interstate.

Lovin, who was part of the sheriff’s drug enforcement unit and regarded as one of the count’s top lawmen, was charged in a 12-count federal indictment with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal drug-seizure money, arson and giving drugs to confidential informants.

The more recent illegal video gambling investigation originated from citizen complaints, which prompted Vice/Narcotics Agents to the following locations where Agents conducted undercover video gaming plays where the cash payouts were received.

At the conclusion of this investigation Thursday, the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement and the Bladenboro Police Department searched:

• 104 N. Elm Street, Clarkton (Freddy’s on Elm)

• 4517 NC 211 West, Bladenboro (Klix 211 Arcade)

• 2673 Hwy 701 North, Elizabethtown (701 Sweepstakes)

• 110 Seaboard Street, Bladenboro (Jewels Sweepstakes)

Agents also conducted a knock and talk at Aladdin Sweepstakes, located at 29 Third St., Dublin.

Pursuant to an agreement with the Bladen County District Attorney’s Office and Jeffery Smith, owner of Aladdin Sweepstakes, the location will cease operations immediately and will not reopen operations within Bladen County or anywhere else in the 13th Prosecutorial District of Bladen, Columbus and Brunswick.

“This was a joint operation with ALE and Bladenboro Police Department,” said Sheriff James McVicker. “We have been working with our State Representative William Brisson and other legislators as well as the Attorney General’s Office to shut these illegal operations down for good. There is new, stronger legislation being introduced to address this issue and more clearly define what is and what is not allowed which will make enforcement much easier and strengthen the penalties. I appreciate all the help we received from our partners in this operation.”

Also arrested:

• Steven Mark Lovin, of Lumberton, is charged with: two counts of gambling, two counts of operating video gaming machines, two counts of possession of five or more video gaming machines, one count of promote, operate, or conduct a server based game, one count of possessing illegal gaming terminals, and one count of operating electronic sweepstakes. Bail is $100,000.

It’s unclear if Steven Mark Lovin is related to Steven Ray Lovin.

• Cynthia Dawn Duncan of Clarkton. She is charged with: Three counts of gambling, three counts of operating video gaming machines, three counts of possession of five or more video gaming machines, two counts of promote, operate, or conduct a server based game, two counts of possessing illegal gaming terminals, and four counts of operating electronic sweepstakes. Bail is $15,000.

Corporations charged with multiple Criminal Summons’ included:

Vapes Enterprises LLC of Raleigh. Charges are three counts of gambling, three counts of operating video gaming machines, three counts of possession of five or more video gaming machines, two counts of promote, operate, or conduct a server based game, two counts of possessing illegal gaming terminals and four counts of operating electronic Sweepstakes.

The following people have active warrants for their arrest and are currently wanted by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office.

• Daniel James Storie of Mooresville. Charges: three counts of gambling, three counts of operating video gaming machines, three counts of possession of five or more video gaming machines, two counts of promote, operate, or conduct a server based game, two counts of possessing illegal gaming terminals, and four counts of operating electronic sweepstakes.

• Daniel Paul Storie of Asheboro. Charges: three counts of gambling, three counts of operating video gaming machines, three counts of possession of five or more video gaming machines, two counts of promote, operate, or conduct a server based game, two counts of possessing illegal gaming terminals, and four counts of operating electronic sweepstakes

• James Hubert Ross, Jr. of Bladenboro. Charges: two counts of gambling, two counts of operating video gaming machines, one count of possession of five or more video gaming machines, one count of promote, operate, or conduct a server based game, one count of possessing illegal gaming terminals, and one count of operating electronic sweepstakes.