Brookline convenience store owner faces felony charges over gaming devices

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A Brookline convenience store owner is facing felony charges over video lottery terminals.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced in a March 18 news release that her office had filed two felony counts of first-degree promoting gambling and a civil action against Briarwood One Stop and its managing officer, Himanshu Patel. The business is located at 5092 W. Sunshine St. in Brookline.

U.S. District Judge John Ross last month ruled that VLTs, often operating in convenience stores, meet the statutory definition of gambling devices under Missouri law and are therefore illegal when played outside of a licensed casino. 

The release indicates Briarwood One Stop housed 12 VLTs and that the business violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.

“Businesses that allow illegal gambling to operate under their roofs are making a deliberate choice to put profit over public safety,” Hanaway said in the release. “My office is committed to dismantling illegal gaming operations, ensuring they have no place in our communities. We will enforce the law and protect our neighborhoods in every county."

Patel was not available at the store for comment this morning.

The attorney general's office is seeking a permanent injunction through the civic action prohibiting Briarwood One Stop from providing access to VLTs. The lawsuit also seeks restitution, civil penalties and other relief.

The Missouri Gaming Association, a statewide trade association representing the state's casino industry, issued a statement this morning in favor of Hanaway's actions related to VLTs.

"Missouri citizens, the federal court, law enforcement, municipalities across the state and numerous business associations have all given a resounding 'no' to illegal video slot machines," the statement reads. "The negative impact of these illegal devices has become crystal clear over the years as they proliferated unchecked."