SLED and Darlington County Sheriff’s Office Charge 2 Darlington County Men In Joint Gambling Investigation

Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) charged Thomas Bernard Langston, 68, of Lamar, SC, on Thursday, April 20, 2023, with one count of Gambling/Unlawful games and betting, and 10 counts of Gambling/Unlawful possession/operation of a slot, video, vending machine, or gambling device.

The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office charged Roy William Cook, 67, of Lamar, SC, on Thursday, April 20, 2023, with Unlawful possession/operation of a slot, video, vending machine or gambling device, Gambling, and Unlawful possession of prescription drugs.

The investigation is active and ongoing.

On April 20, 2023 SLED agents responded to a complaint of illegal gambling. Agents conducted a Knock-and-Talk investigation resulting in the seizure of 10 illegal gaming machines utilized for the purpose of illegal gambling.

All of the machines were identified as gaming machines, offering various forms of poker, keno and blackjack, which are illegal games of chance prohibited under South Carolina law. The defendant, Thomas Bernard Langston, admitted to keeping and operating the illegal machines for the purpose of illegal gambling. The possession of illegal gambling machines is against the law, peace, and dignity of the State of South Carolina. This being violation of S.C. Code of Laws, section 12-21-2710.

Langston was booked at the Florence County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the 12th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.