Multiple raids in eight counties after lengthy gambling and money laundering investigation

Newton County Constable Matt Wonders calls it "one of the largest gambling and money laundering investigations in east Texas history", and he says multiple raids across the region occurred on Friday evening. According to Wonders, law enforcement officers on the local and state level executed 37 evidentiary search warrants at locations in eight counties, stretching from Shelby County to Galveston County. Wonders says this followed a 15 month investigation which revealed that the owners of illegal gambling establishments were "laundering millions of dollars locally as well as internationally". According to Wonders, no arrests have been made yet, but once they do he says the criminal charges will include Money Laundering, Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, Illegal Gambling, Keeping a Gambling Place, Promotion of Gambling, Possession of Gambling Devices, and numerous drug charges.