Police Raid Home Of 90-Year-Old Georgia Woman For Unsanctioned Gambling

Cops seize cash and vehicles in a victimless crime bonanza.
Police State USA
Nov. 19, 2014

ALBANY, GA — Police raided an elderly woman’s home because they suspected that she was allowing people to play cards and bet money inside without government permission — an “illegal gambling house.”

The raid took place on the evening of November 15th, 2014. Around 8:30 p.m., the Albany Police Department, along with multiple other agencies, entered the home of 90-year-old Mary Helen Morgan to search for evidence of gambling.

What police discovered was a bonanza of victimless crimes. Ms. Morgan’s guests were allegedly playing cards, betting money, even paying Ms. Morgan to serve them beverages. All these voluntary adult interactions were allegedly being performed without government permission, oversight, or licenses.

Ms. Morgan was charged with multiple crimes, including keeping a place of gambling, disorderly house, and illegal alcohol sales. Police charged or cited sixteen other adults with an array of other victimless crimes.

The raid also yielded a bounty of loot for authorities to seize from the accused suspects. The Albany Herald elaborated on the property that was confiscated using the power of civil asset forfeiture:
In addition to the arrests and citations, [APD Deputy Chief Mark] Scott said officers seized several items from the house, which was described as an illegal “store.” Those items included a gun, drugs, a 2004 Chevy Silverado belonging to [Patrick] Lyons, a 2003 GMC Yukon and trailer containing miscellaneous lawn care equipment belonging to [Ronnie] Gibson, and $4,100 in cash. Items such as alcohol, tobacco products, snacks and drinks were also being sold illegally at the residence, police said.
Albany police were joined by APD’s Special Detail Unit, Gang Unit, Uniform Bureau, Criminal Investigations Bureau, Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit, Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office and the Probation and Parole Office.

The basis of this invasive prohibition is to uphold the state’s legal monopoly over gambling. Individuals are allowed to gamble away their life savings, so long as it is done in the state-sanctioned Georgia Lottery, where the state reaps the profits. Games organized voluntarily, on private property, are violently prohibited.

No society based on freedom and voluntarism would ban consenting adults from playing games and exchanging money.













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