Sheriff’s Lt. Calvin Chew said undercover officers went to C-Mart Gas Station, 3403 Mike Padgett Highway, after receiving several complaints and found video gambling machines giving cash payouts. Chew said most gaming machines are legal to operate but cash payouts are illegal.

The investigation continued for several months before police issued search warrants Tuesday morning. All of the video gambling machines were confiscated, along with $56,000.

The store’s owner, Hemant Phutane, 36, of Spring House Lane, and a clerk, Mukundlal Jayswal, 57, have been charged with felony commercial gambling and misdemeanor charges of possession of a gambling device and keeping a gambling place.

– From staff reports