More than 750 video poker machines were seized in an old warehouse in southern Lexington County on Tuesday. The machines were discovered on Monday morning by Swansea police and Lexington County firefighters after they had been informed about a possible fire at the warehouse.
The police and firefigters didn't see any smoke or flames, but they noticed a water leakage and called the water department, which informed them that the water had been disconnected. The police found that one door was unlocked and entered the building. There they found rows of poker machines and called State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Swansea Magistrate Scott Whittle later declared that the machines were illegal. As of today, no one has been charged for possessing the machines.
"Now, the owners of the machines have 15 days to contest Whittle's decision. If they do not challenge the ruling, the machines will be destroyed," said Adam Whitsett, an attorney in the S.C. Attorney General's Office, in an interview yesterday.
