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On Wednesday, William Bradford Barksdale, the ex-chief of police in Flint, entered a plea of no contest concerning charges associated with unlawful gambling.
In 2018, Barksdale was charged with one count of gambling violations and one count of reckless use of a firearm. These charges were related to purported gambling activities at West Point Arcade. Barksdale recently entered his pleas for these charges.
The charge for gambling violations carries a penalty of five years in prison, whereas the firearm charge is considered a misdemeanor punishable by 90 days.
His sentencing is set for April 14th in Genesee County Circuit Court.
Former police chief third to enter plea in West Point Arcade case
In relation to West Point Arcade, Barksdale becomes the third person to enter a plea. Alvin Crossnoe and Adam Crossnoe, his co-defendants, had previously pleaded guilty in their individual cases in 2021.
According to state officials, the West Point Arcade in Flint, which underwent investigation in 2017, was operated by the trio.
In a statement, Dana Nessel, the Michigan Attorney General, expressed her office’s unwavering dedication to enforcing gaming regulations. She emphasized the ongoing collaboration with the Michigan Gaming Control Board to uphold the state’s gambling laws, not only in this particular case but also in others.
MGCB assisted in investigation of West Point Arcade
In that particular year, regulatory officers from the Michigan Gaming Control Board paid a visit to the arcade due to suspicions of unauthorized gambling activities taking place, in the absence of a valid casino license.
The individuals had the opportunity to engage in casino-style games using computer stations and received compensation in the form of generic gift cards. Following a thorough investigation, the case was subsequently transferred to the Department of Attorney General for prosecution.
In addition to the search warrant execution, over 80 firearms were discovered on the premises, which included eight shotguns that had been shortened.
According to MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams, the Michigan Gaming Control Board emphasizes the need to eradicate illegal gaming operations due to their inability to offer the same safeguards and benefits that legal, regulated gambling provides for the citizens of Michigan. Williams also highlights the negative impact of these illegal operations, such as increased crime rates and exploitation of vulnerable individuals, particularly senior citizens. The results of the investigation are viewed positively by the MGCB.
