Six indicted for Albany illegal poker games

ALBANY — Six Albany men accused in June of illegal gambling in a high-profile case have been indicted by a Dougherty County grand jury.

Albany businessman and real estate developer Robert “Bob” Brooks, Todd Kegler and Rick Wagner each were indicted on two counts of commercial gambling, while Daniel Gloria, Jim Phelps and Brian Hatcher were indicted on one count each of commercial gambling.

Brooks and Kegler, along with former Albany mayor Willie Adams, Jr., Page Elliott Keen, Jerome Hubbard, Donald R. Bell, Charlie Carswell, William Connell, Anthony Forsythe, James David Howell, Travis Kierce, Santy Solis, Alvin Whelchel and Harry Wilbourn Jr. were arrested June 2 by agents of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation in a raid at “The River House,” 2650 N. Jefferson St., and charged with illegal gambling.

According to GBI officials, two firearms and about $20,000 in cash was seized during the raid.

Those arrested in the raid but not indicted for commercial gambling continue to be charged with misdemeanor illegal gambling, officials say, and could face fines or other legal sanctions. According to officials, commercial gambling is a felony.

Officials say that after a full investigation, those now indicted in connection with the gambling operation were found to have been integral to the operation of the gambling house.

In the indictment, Brooks is named as owner of the building where the alleged gambling took place, while Kegler is said to have acted as a “middle man” for money transacted between Brooks and the other players.

Wagner is cited in the indictment as having sold food and drinks from his former restaurant, Wagner’s Barbecue. Gloria is accused of acting in the role of “trash man,” discarding old food, drinks and playing ledgers, and also for acting as dealer in the games.

Phelps is accused in the indictment of holding money for the game establishment and for opening the building for the games. In the indictment, Hatcher is said to have collected money from the poker games to pay for rent and utilities at the establishment, and also of providing the establishment with a security system, televisions, poker tables and chips.

“Some people may have thought it was out of line to break up a little gambling party,” said Greg Edwards, Dougherty County district attorney in June, “But there was quite a lot of money at that game. Gambling is illegal and we do prosecute for that.”

Edwards later recused himself and his office from participating in the prosecution, citing his associations with many of the accused and their affiliations. Also in June, State Attorney General Sam Olens appointed Julia Slater, district attorney for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit to handle the proceedings. Day to day investigative and courtroom work will be handled by Chief Assistant District Attorney Alonzo Whitaker, Edwards said.

“This sort of gambling won’t be treated as the crime of the century,” Whitaker said on Friday, “but it is illegal and we want to show the the people of Albany that high level card games won’t be treated any differently than gambling with dice in another part of town.”

Whitaker said the defendants will be arraigned within the next three months, where they’ll have an opportunity to make a formal plea to the charges.

“No one in this case will be screaming for jail time,” Whitaker said, “and the court usually looks more favorably toward those who stand up and admit their wrongs to the community.”