A father and son were sentenced earlier this month for their roles in an illegal gambling operation in Michigan. The charges stem from arrests in 2022 for unlawful gaming at locations in Burton and Davison.
Shaun M. Bellah Sr. and his son Shaun M. Bellah II, both of Highland, received probationary sentences after pleading to high misdemeanor charges of maintaining a gambling house for gain.
The senior Bellah also pled to a single count of conducting a gambling operation without a license. Bellah Sr. received 24 months of probation, and his son was given 12 months probation. Both were also required to pay fines. Judge Richard D. Ball of Michigan’s 7th Judicial Circuit Court handed down the sentences, which were delivered on Dec. 18.
Both men originally faced felony charges. Officials have previously pled down charges on similar illegal gambling operations. It’s unusual for those convicted of illegal gambling in Michigan to receive jail time. But authorities make the arrests and seizure of cash and property very public as a deterrence. Michigan recently made a short list for a regulatory award for its efforts to combat illegal gambling.
2022 raids were result of MGCB investigation
In the spring of 2022, on April 27, officials from the Michigan State Police, the Michigan Attorney General’s Office, and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Department led raids at two spots that were housing illegal gaming.
Warrants were served on 723 South State Road in Davison, and a second location at 1374 East Bristol Road in Burton. Those raids resulted in the confiscation of roughly 100 gambling devices, nearly $30,000 in illegal gaming profits, and other gambling materials.
The operation was coordinated after a detailed investigation by the Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB). The MGCB is responsible for regulating and enforcing the state’s gambling laws. It has spearheaded seizures of many gambling machines and profits in the past year, as the state cracks down on illegal operators. In July, a settlement was reached in a case against an illegal gambling ring, also in Genesee County.
MGCB Executive Director Henry Williams commented on the latest development and underscored the board’s stance on illegal gambling in a press release to PlayMichigan.
“This case underscores our unwavering commitment to maintaining the integrity of our state’s gaming industry. We will continue to work diligently with the Michigan Attorney General’s Office to identify and prosecute individuals who seek to circumvent our laws.”
Gaming in Michigan requires a license. Any operation outside the boundaries of the law poses a threat to consumers. Often, these locations, like the “The State Road Spot,” and “The Bristol Spot,” as the Davison and Burton gaming houses were known, can be fronts for other illegal activity like money laundering. Consumers who choose to gamble at these illegal places are not protected from fraud. They will have no legal recourse if they have a dispute over a wager.
MGCB also focused on illegal online gambling
Michigan has also taken a hard stance against illegal online gambling operators. Earlier in 2024, the MGCB and Attorney General’s Office sent a cease and desist letter to Bovada. The sportsbook/casino app operates offshore and had been available to consumers in Michigan.
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has commended the MGCB for their efforts to end any forms of illegal gambling in the state.
“I want to thank the Michigan Gaming Control Board for their investigative efforts and enforcement of our state gaming laws. I look forward to continuing our collaboration to combat criminal gambling enterprises throughout our state.”
The MGCB and Michigan State Police urge citizens to report suspicious behavior regarding illegal gambling to the tip line at 1-888-314-2682.
