Webster Parish Sheriff Cracks Down on Illegal Gambling Operations in Minden

The Webster Parish Sheriff's Office shut down five illegal gambling operations in and around Minden this week, arresting 11 individuals and seizing more than $230,000 in cash, 47 gambling machines, and 12 firearms in what Sheriff Jason Parker called the largest gambling enforcement operation in the parish's history.

The crackdown, code-named "Operation Jackpot," is the result of a three-month investigation into underground gambling establishments that investigators say have been operating illegally in Minden and surrounding communities, preying on vulnerable residents and draining money from the local economy.

The Investigation

The investigation began in April, when the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office received multiple complaints from residents about suspicious activity at several businesses in Minden — a Webster Parish city of approximately 12,000 in northwestern Louisiana.

"We had people calling us saying, 'There's a place down the street that's always packed at 2 a.m. with cars lined up, but it looks like a closed storefront,'" Sheriff Parker said. "When we started looking into it, we found an entire network of illegal gambling operations hiding behind legitimate-looking business fronts."

Undercover deputies visited each of the five locations over a period of several weeks, documenting illegal slot machines, video poker terminals, and cash betting operations. Search warrants were executed simultaneously at all five locations on Wednesday morning.

The Seized Operations

The five shuttered establishments include an "internet cafe" on Pearl Street in Minden that housed 14 illegal gambling machines, a convenience store on Shreveport Road that operated an unlicensed video poker parlor in a back room, a "skill game" arcade in Dixie with 16 machines, a private club on Lewisville Road that hosted high-stakes card games, and a mobile gambling operation that moved between rented spaces in Minden and Springhill.

In total, officers seized 47 gambling machines, approximately $230,000 in cash, and 12 firearms — including two that were reported stolen from a residence in neighboring Bossier Parish.

"These weren't just a couple of slot machines in the back of a bar," Sheriff Parker said. "These were full-scale illegal gambling operations. The amount of cash we seized tells you how much money was flowing through these places. That's money being taken out of the pockets of Webster Parish residents and put into the pockets of criminals."

The Human Cost

Sheriff Parker emphasized that illegal gambling is not a victimless crime. The establishments targeted in the operation primarily served low-income residents, many of whom were gambling away paychecks, retirement funds, and government assistance.

"We talked to people who lost their rent money at these places," Parker said. "We talked to a grandmother who gambled away her Social Security check. We talked to a man who lost his entire paycheck in one night and couldn't feed his kids the next day. These operations prey on the most vulnerable people in our community."

According to the Louisiana Department of Health, problem gambling affects approximately 5% of Louisiana adults — one of the highest rates in the nation. The Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling reported a 34% increase in helpline calls in 2025, with many callers citing illegal gambling establishments as their primary outlet.

"Legal gambling in Louisiana is already accessible — we have casinos, we have the lottery, we have licensed video poker," Parker said. "But these illegal operations don't have any of the safeguards. No age verification, no self-exclusion programs, no responsible gaming protocols. They just take and take until there's nothing left."

Arrests and Charges

The 11 individuals arrested face a range of charges, including operating an illegal gambling business, money laundering, possession of gambling devices, and possession of stolen firearms. Among those arrested: Marcus Reed, 41, of Minden — charged with operating an illegal gambling business and money laundering; Tommy Hodge, 38, of Shreveport — charged with promoting gambling and possession of stolen firearms; and Vicki Sessions, 45, of Minden — charged with operating an illegal gambling business and tax evasion.

All 11 were transported to the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. Bonds range from $15,000 to $100,000.

Community Response

News of the crackdown was met with approval from Minden residents and community leaders.

Minden Mayor Terry Gardner praised the sheriff's department's work. "These illegal operations have been a blight on our community," Gardner said. "They attract criminal activity, they exploit our most vulnerable residents, and they drain money from our local economy. I'm grateful to Sheriff Parker and his team for taking decisive action."

Pastor Michael Jefferson of Minden's Greater Mount Calvary Baptist Church, who has been an outspoken advocate against gambling in the community, said the crackdown was an answer to prayer. "Gambling is a poison," Jefferson said. "It destroys families. It destroys lives. It destroys communities. Today, a poison was removed from our streets. We're grateful."

What Happens Next

The five establishments have been permanently closed. Sheriff Parker said his office will continue monitoring for illegal gambling operations and will conduct periodic compliance checks at businesses throughout the parish.

"We're not naive enough to think we've eliminated the problem entirely," Parker said. "But we've sent a clear message. If you're running an illegal gambling operation in Webster Parish, we're going to find you, and we're going to shut you down."

The Webster Parish Sheriff's Office is working with the Louisiana State Police Gaming Enforcement Division to trace the origins of the seized gambling machines and determine whether any were connected to a larger organized crime network.

"If this investigation leads us to bigger fish, we'll follow it wherever it goes," Parker said. "Our job is to protect the people of Webster Parish. That's exactly what we intend to do."