From Deseret News archives:
Authorities raid Clearfield bingo parlor
"You feel violated in a sense," McKenzie said after she was questioned by police. "You come here to play and think you're not getting into trouble. You come for fun."
Customers at the Clearfield bingo parlor sat in booths and chairs Thursday afternoon, smoking cigarettes and looking clearly irritated as nearly 20 officers from the Clearfield Police Department and the Department of Public Safety (DPS) executed a search warrant on the 49er Social Club, 49 E. 200 South, citing owner Wendi West with a class B misdemeanor offense of gambling.
Officers carried touch-screen bingo computers out of the building into a trailer as part of their investigation into illegal gaming at the club. Authorities said they seized $10,000 in cash, employee records, receipts, signs and paper bingo cards.
"I hate to see people on fixed incomes going in there and throwing their money away," said Clearfield City Attorney Larry Waggoner, noting that the majority of the clientele were seniors. Investigators said the club was operating illegal bingo games by letting people pay money for bingo tickets and winning cash in return.
"What they were doing is charging $30 and saying you get a meal, which consisted of a burrito," said DPS Lt. Tony Garcia. "Any prudent person knows you're not going to pay $30 for a burrito."
Clearfield authorities were tipped off by a rival bingo parlor, Waggoner said. Undercover officers had the 49er Social Club under surveillance for the past 18 months.
"My agent was paid $18 on a Cha-Chingo machine," Garcia said. "On another night, he played bingo and made $30."
Throughout the afternoon, customers continued to walk into the 49er Social Club only to be turned away by police. One woman held a crisp $10 bill in her hand as she asked what was happening.
"You're kidding," she said. "They raided it?"
On the walls of the western-themed club, fliers spelling out state gaming laws were posted along with signs advertising "Pick 7 Jackpot $510" and "Bonanza Jackpot $1050." Authorities said West operated a similar bingo parlor in Rock Springs, Wyo., which had been under investigation.
Jason Stern said he's going to have to find a new job.
"It's almost like it was due to happen," he said Thursday. Stern defended the club, where he is a manager, saying other bingo parlors along the Wasatch Front were set up the same way. "There's a real shady line between what's legal and what's not."
Garcia said there are several other bingo parlors that remain under investigation by DPS and that undercover officers were already at work on some of them.
"People are coming in, spending a lot of money and leaving without any gain," Garcia said. "Some are walking out broke."
E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com
