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Police Profit From South Carolina Poker Seizure
GREER, SOUTH CAROLINA --
Police who investigated a video poker operation received a huge reward as the millions forfeited by the convicted gambling operator were paid out to departments involved in the bust. Billy Joe Hindman accepted a 2007 plea arrangement for running illegal video poker machines throughout South Carolina which included his forfeiture of $9 million.
By sacrificing the massive sum, Hindman avoided jail time, and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and five years probation.
Now, the funds are being divided between the police departments who conducted the investigation. Among the recipients were the South Carolina State Police,, the IRS, and the Greer Police Department. Over $1.3 million went to the town police, who noted some of the money would go to new patrol cars.
"The IRS utilizes this asset sharing program as a tool to disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises," said an IRS spokesman. "Asset forfeiture takes the profit out of crime."
Some libertarians have voiced concern about the ability of authorities to maintain proper objectivity when the government profits from prosecutions. One local source said that rumors Hindman had basically agreed to pay his way out of prison have circulated.
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