Michael McLean, Star Writer

Santa Cruz

Nine persons from St Elizabeth, who were charged with illegal gaming after they were found in possession of lottery ticket books and cash, were yesterday fined when they appeared in the Santa Cruz Resident Magistrate's Court.

Roshell Johnson, Roxanne Johnson, Packesia Dunkley, Ray Simpson, Teddy Green, Winston McLean, Charles Swaby, Arden Bartley, Mavern Nicholas and Winston Walters, who were charged with two counts of illegal gaming, were fined $100,000 each or three months imprisonment.

Walters was also fined $200,000 for additional charges of illegal book-making and using his premises to sell lottery tickets.

It's alleged that in March this year police officers from Kingston and an enforcement team from the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission carried out an operation at Lititz district, in the parish, where they discovered the illegal activity. The activities were videotaped and the police, on their second visit, swooped down on the sellers at the home of Walters. They were subsequently arrested and charged.