Russell Greiner moves a video poker machine into a warehouse. Sixteen machines were confiscated from D&M Gifts and Games and A.J.'s Game Room during two raids over the weekend. Richmond County Officials also arrested five people on commercial gambling charges. JENNIFER FULLER/STAFF

The simultaneous busts at D&M's Gifts and Games at 2566 Lumpkin Road and A.J.'s Game Room at 2601 Deans Bridge Road about 6:30 p.m. Saturday were a continuation of Richmond County's war on video poker that began in July when the gaming devices were outlawed in South Carolina, said Lt. Stoney Turnage, head of the vice squad.

Officers seized 16 video poker machines and about $7,000 in cash in the two raids, which were the result of cash payoffs to undercover agents in recent weeks, Lt. Turnage said.

State law prohibits cash payments from the games.

During the raid on D&M's Gifts, officers arrested license holder Cheryl A. Williamson, 43, of the 2400 block of Tobacco Road; Frank Cunningham, 51, of the 3000 block of Mistletoe Avenue; and Nosum Gibson, 47, of the 3500 block of Mercedes Drive, all in Hephzibah. Each was charged with one count of commercial gambling, Lt. Turnage said.

The sheriff's office also confiscated four video poker machines, about $2,300 in cash and a .22 caliber pistol belonging to Ms. Williamson, Lt. Turnage said.

Saturday's raid of D&M's Gifts was the second in three months. Officers raided the business Dec. 5, arrested a clerk and charged her with four counts of commercial gambling. Ms. Williamson also was arrested during that raid and charged with obstruction of an officer for trying to withhold evidence - cash and a gun, Investigator Roderick Berry said.

During Saturday's raid of A.J.'s Game Room, officers arrested Det Thi Ellis, 46, of 4255 Parkwood Drive in Augusta; and Lynn Francis Hancock, 48, of the 400 block of Elton Avenue in North Augusta, and charged each with two counts of commercial gambling. Ms. Hancock was also charged with one count of order to show cause because of an outstanding warrant on a probation violation, Lt. Turnage said.

Officers confiscated 12 video poker machines and about $4,700 in cash from A.J.'s Game Room, according to Lt. Turnage.

``This is a continuing, ongoing investigation of illegal video poker machines in Richmond County,'' Lt. Turnage said. ``We continue to follow these poker houses, and when we receive information we follow up on this information.''

In July, the vice squad shut down three video arcades and arrested two people on commercial gambling charges in connection with making cash payoffs. In raids on the Pot of Gold at 1513 North Leg Road K.C. Collectibles at 2326 Lumpkin Road and Hair Professional and T's Gift Shop at 3096 Deans Bridge Road, officers seized 45 video poker machines, about $9,000 in cash and two handguns.

In August, officers raided Millennium Solutions at Old Savannah and Tobacco roads and confiscated nine gaming machines and $3,800 in cash. And in December, in addition to the raid and arrests at D&M's Gifts, officers raided A's Convenience Store at 1857-A Gordon Highway and arrested two clerks on commercial gambling charges.

Despite the ongoing crackdown on video poker parlors, many officials say the law isn't clear on what is and isn't legal. Local governments have looked to the state Legislature for answers. Three video poker bills are currently before the Georgia Senate. Two of them, sponsored by Sen. Mike Beatty, R-Jefferson, would ban the games outright or give local governments the right to make their own laws.

A third, sponsored by Sen. Mike Polak, D-Atlanta, would beef up laws on the machines but keep them legal.

Reach Sylvia Cooper at (706) 823-3228.