Two Coffee County Residents Arrested for Illegal Gambling Operations

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has arrested Gene “Buster” Cauley, 61, and Jennifer Amy Clark, 47, both of Coffee County, following a search warrant executed on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, in Douglas, GA. The arrests came after a joint operation by the GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit, the Coffee County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit, and the Georgia Lottery Corporation. Search warrants were executed at Swamp Dawg’s Bait, Tackle and Bow, and Bella’s Thrifts and Gift, located on the 600 block of E. Baker Hwy. in Douglas.

Cauley faces charges of Operating Unlicensed Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMS) (Felony), Commercial Gambling (Felony), Possession of Gambling Devices (High and Aggravated Misdemeanor), Keeping a Gambling Place (High and Aggravated Misdemeanor), and multiple counts of Providing Cash Payouts for Accrued COAM Credits (Misdemeanor). Clark is charged with Operating Unlicensed COAMS (Felony), Commercial Gambling (Felony), Possession of Gambling Devices (High and Aggravated Misdemeanor), and Keeping a Gambling Place (High and Aggravated Misdemeanor).

The investigation revealed that the businesses were operating unlicensed COAMS, where customers were receiving cash payouts for winning credits. In Georgia, COAMS must be licensed by the Georgia Lottery, and credits can only be redeemed for lottery tickets or store merchandise.

Cauley and Clark were booked into the Coffee County Jail. The investigation remains active and ongoing.