News Release: Trio faces sentencing June 1 on felony, misdemeanor charges for operating illegal gambling site following State-Flint Township Police investigation

Contact: Mary Kay Bean, beanm1@michigan.gov

For Immediate Release:

Trio faces sentencing June 1 on felony, misdemeanor charges for operating illegal gambling site following State-Flint Township Police investigation

Detroit, May 12, 2022 – Three people face sentencing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, in Ingham County Circuit Court for their roles in operating Spin City, a former illegal gambling operation on Miller Road in Flint Township. Charges were filed against the trio in 2019 following a joint investigation by the Michigan Gaming Control Board, Michigan Department of Attorney General and Flint Township Police Department.

Anthony Todd Sutton, 53, of Wilmington, N.C., pled guilty April 20 to one felony count of conducting gambling operations. Also on April 20, his associates Kara Marie Shilling, 37, of Flint pled guilty to a high court misdemeanor of maintaining a gambling room, and Marjorie Jean Brown, 53, of Flint pled guilty to a misdemeanor count of attempting to maintain a gambling house.

“Illegal gambling facilities often target lower income areas and vulnerable populations, and their operations deprive residents of the protections of legal, regulated gaming,” said Henry Williams, MGCB executive director. “The MGCB partners with local law enforcement and the Attorney General’s office to investigate reported instances of illegal gambling and help communities close unlicensed and unregulated operations across the state.”

The Michigan Department of Attorney General helps lead investigations and prosecutes cases of alleged illegal gambling in the state.

"We will continue to work with the MGCB and our local law enforcement partners to crack down on illegal gambling facilities. Unregulated operations should heed this warning or risk criminal prosecution," Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

Flint Township Police contacted the MGCB in June 2018 about reports of illegal gambling at Spin City, G-3490 Miller Road, Suite 5, Flint Township. Following an investigation begun in July 2018, a cease-and-desist letter was sent in January 2019 giving Spin City two weeks to cease operating.

A search warrant was served at Spin City in late February 2019, and investigators seized 67 computers and slot-style gaming machines, $12,679 in cash and other miscellaneous items related to the operation.

The charge against Sutton is punishable by up to 10 years in state prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000, but the court accepted a plea agreement for no jail time to be imposed at the initial sentencing. Shilling could receive up to two years in state prison or a fine of up to $1,000. Brown could face up to one year in county jail.

In 2020, a St. Clair County man pled guilty to two felony counts — one for conducting illegal gambling activities and another for using a computer to commit a felony — at Spin City. David Hoppe was accused of supplying illegal gambling games to Spin City between May 2017 and February 2019. In October 2020, he was sentenced in Genesee County Circuit Court to 12 months of probation and $1,066 in fines, costs and fees.

The MGCB publishes a fact sheet about Michigan law and a separate fact sheet on unregulated machines used for illegal gambling. Michigan citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious or illegal gambling by calling the MGCB’s 24-hour anonymous tip line, 888-314-2682.

"The Michigan Gaming Control Board shall ensure the conduct of fair and honest gaming to protect the interests of the citizens of the State of Michigan."

• Spin City trio faces June 1 2022 sentencing.docx