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The following was taken from a press release distributed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on August 14, 2024:
COFFEE COUNTY, Ga. – The GBI has arrested Gene “Buster” Cauley, age 61, of Coffee County and Jennifer Amy Clark, age 47, of Coffee County, following a search warrant executed on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, in Douglas, GA, for violations of Georgia’s gambling laws.
The GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, and the Georgia Lottery Corporation executed the search warrants at Swamp Dawg’s Bait, Tackle and Bow, and Bella’s Thrifts and Gift, which are all located on the 600 block of E. Baker Hwy. in Douglas, GA.
Cauley was charged with Operating Unlicensed COAMS (Felony), Commercial Gambling (Felony), Possession of Gambling Devices (High and Aggravated Misdemeanor), Keeping a Gambling Place (High and Aggravated Misdemeanor), and multiple counts of Providing Cash Payouts for Accrued COAM Credits (Misdemeanor).
Clark was charged with Operating Unlicensed COAMS (Felony), Commercial Gambling (Felony), Possession of Gambling Devices (High and Aggravated Misdemeanor), and Keeping a Gambling Place (High and Aggravated Misdemeanor).
During the course of a lengthy investigation, agents discovered a business operating unlicensed Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMS) where customers were receiving cash payouts for winning credits. In Georgia, COAMS must be properly licensed by the Georgia Lottery and credits may only be redeemed for lottery tickets and/or store merchandise.
Cauley and Clark were booked into the Coffee County Jail.
This investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the GBI’s Commerical Gambling Unit at 404-270-8491. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477), online at https://gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online, or by downloading the See Something, Send Something mobile app.
Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be given to the Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.