District Attorney seized all assets in racketeering case

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) -“I filed a civil racketeering complaint yesterday in superior court,” said Bibb County District Attorney, David Cooke. Cooke is suing Krunal Patel, Harpeet Kaur, Navpreet Kaur, and Shuken Patel.

They were arrested Wednesday, after the GBI raided their ten convenience stores for illegal gambling.

The GBI investigation began in March, according to GBI Special Agent, Cindy Ledford, undercover agents witnessed people at each of the stores who won on the machines being paid in cash.

Ledford says store owners are only allowed to pay winners with store merchandise.

Cooke wants the suspects to pay back every dollar they are accused of taking.

“Certain types of racketeering particularly when it comes to gambling allegations and money laundering require such a high degree of specialization,” said Cooke.

After the raids, investigators seized their assets including all of their convenience stores, cars, gambling machines, and real estate including a luxury home on Southern Oaks Drive.

According to the district attorney the locks were changed and 77 bank accounts were frozen.

A third-party attorney will hold on to their properties until the case is resolved. Bibb County Superior Court Judge, Verde Colvin signed a Receivership Order naming attorney, Burt Wilkerson of Spivey, Pope, Green and Greer Law Firm as the receiver in the racketeering case.

Cooke says there are three reasons why Wilkerson will oversee all of the assets.

“One, to make sure one, no evidence is destroyed. two, that no property which could be subject to forfeiture, is disposed of and three, just to maintain the integrity of it until the case is completed,” explained Cooke.

Cooke’s office has hired a special prosecutor. he calls Michael Lambrose an expert in racketeering cases.

“These kinds of cases require a high degree of specialization and in order to make sure it was done right,”

Bibb County Sheriff David Davis says this case stems from several complaints.

“This started as a result of some questionable activities, that were going on at some of these establishments,” said Davis.

Frank Lester lives two doors down from the southern oaks home where three of the suspects were arrested.

“I have no problem with people doing what they want to do with their money, I just hope that it isn’t true,” said Lester.