Maple Park Mayor Guilty of Illegal Slot Machines

The Former Maple Park Village President has pleaded guilty to six counts of illegal slot machine gambling. He will serve a year of probation and pay a $250 fine for operating the illegal slot machines. He will not be allowed to do any gambling during his probation. Now there remains only one case to be resolved from the raid of the Maple Park Tavern and seizure of illegal slot machines.

In May 2004, police raided the Maple Park tavern that goes by the name of D.J.’s Tavern, and discovered illegal slot machines. Fourteen people were arrested, including eleven tavern employees. They found a bookmaking operation, a spin-the-wheel lottery, and the illegal slot machines as well as other forms of illegal gambling. The only case not resolved yet is that of the bartender, Keith Nickels. It is still possible that he will ask for a jury trial, he goes to court in January, as he may not have been involved in the slot machine and gambling part of the establishment. Everyone else pled out, and no one has gone to jail. Everyone has received probation of some kind and various fines.

The local police chief Chester Morris was originally suspected of being involved with the illegal slot machines and was arrested – although he was then cleared and released. However, the Village Board still fired him.

Back to Monthly Archive // Main Slot Machine News Index