The Clayton County Sheriff’s Joint Vice Task Force executed a search warrant at 8647 Tara Boulevard. This location is the business of the Poker Palace. The Vice Task Force is comprised of members from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office and the City of Morrow Police Department. Their goal is to eradicate issues in the county that directly effect quality of life issues. The Vice Task Force recently shut down all illegal spas in Clayton County, two counterfeit clothing stores in Riverdale, two illegal gambling halls in the City of Morrow, and two major piracy operations in Atlanta.

The investigation into the Poker Palace has been going on for sometime. Information came to light that the Poker Palace has slot machines and Texas-Hold-Em games that paid out in cash. Agents from the task force were able to get inside the location in an undercover capacity. While at the Poker Palace, agents played the slot machines and did receive cash pay outs that exceed the limits allowed under Georgia Law. Agents were then able to play Texas-Hold-Em and received cash pay outs in excess of $400.00. Agents played for several hours and won several hands and also lost several hands. The owner of the Poker Palace is Wayne Reinhardt. He is 68 years old and has a criminal record that dates back 51 years. His record also includes convictions of gambling and RICO.

The Task Force will seize the business as well as arrest everyone on location gambling. This is an ongoing sustained effort to weed out vice related crimes in Clayton County.

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Joint Vice Task Force, which is comprised of personnel from the City of Morrow Police Department and the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, intercepted one hundred and fifty five pounds of marijuana on 05/30/2007.

The Task Force received a call from law enforcement officials in Phoenix, Arizona early in the morning on 05/26/2007. Agents learned that the package was being shipped to Clayton County in a crate containing mufflers. The Vice Unit learned that authorities in Phoenix had already seized over three hundred pounds of marijuana from the same shipper to the same recipient. Agents were able to secure a search warrant for the crate in Clayton County Magistrate Court. Agents then intercepted the crate at a local shipping company and opened the crate. Hidden deep inside the crate under mufflers was one hundred and fifty five pounds of marijuana. Agents seized the drugs and tested them. Agents received a positive reaction for marijuana. The crate was put back together and delivered to its intended recipient. Agents were present to watch the delivery. The delivery location was inside of DeKalb County and Agents received the assistance of the Dekalb County Narcotics Squad.

The location of the delivery was a warehouse with one employee. That employee was already identified by Vice Agents prior to the delivery of the narcotics. Vice Agents and DeKalb Narcotics Agents made contact with that suspect at the warehouse after the delivery was made. The shipping crate had been dismantled completely and all the mufflers removed. It is also important to note that this warehouse did not deal in any kind of automotive parts. It is also apparent from this investigation that the warehouse management, who are out of state, did not know what this rouge employee was doing. That is why we are not releasing the name of this company.

The suspect was not taken into custody at this time pending further investigation, but arrests are forthcoming. This pipeline for the trafficking of narcotics has been running for several months. That pipeline is now shut down and the narcotics are off the streets.

The Vice Unit will continue to investigate the types of crimes here in Clayton County. If you have tips that you would like to pass on to us our number is 770-960-3018.

The Clayton County Sheriff’s Joint Vice Task Force executed a search warrant at 6341 Hwy 42 in Rex, Georgia on 11-30-2007. This location is the business of "The Break". The investigation into "The Break" has been going on for sometime. Information came to light that "The Break" had slot machines and Texas-Hold-Em games that paid out in cash. Agents from the task force were able to get inside the location in an undercover capacity. While at "The Break", agents played the slot machines and did receive cash pay outs that exceed the limits allowed under Georgia Law. During this raid the Vice Unit seized more than 4 ounces of marijuana, three firearms, cocaine, several thousand dollars of illegal proceeds, and arrested 24 people. 10 illegal video slot machines where also seized.