Kinston police arrest former council candidate in alleged Facebook gambling investigation

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Kinston police arrest former council candidate in alleged Facebook gambling investigation. Mugshot of Quarla Blackwell

The Kinston Police Division introduced that its Violent Crime Motion Workforce has concluded a months-long investigation into what authorities described as an illegal online gambling operation carried out by way of Fb.

In line with a statement posted by the division, detectives took 51-year-old Quarla Blackwell into custody at her residence in North Carolina on Tuesday (December 23) with out incident. Police mentioned Blackwell faces 4 counts of cash laundering and two counts of playing. The division added that the investigation stays ongoing and that further costs are doable.

In a separate social media submit, an account claiming to belong to Blackwell shared a video Tuesday displaying police automobiles pulling up in entrance of a residence the place she was current. The identical account later said that she had spent two days in jail. In a written submit, she mentioned, “So long as I’ve been enjoying on these fish tables now it’s against the law.” Fish desk video games are a sort of on line casino sport, the place gamers take management of a cannon, intention, shoot, and attempt to catch as many fish as doable.

Kinston police vehicles are parked along a residential street near a house during an active police response. — Police automobiles are seen exterior a residence in Kinston throughout an investigation introduced by authorities. Credit score: Quarla Blackwell / Fb

Police haven’t commented on the video or the statements attributed to Blackwell. Authorities burdened that the costs are allegations and that the case will proceed by way of the court docket system. Blackwell is presumed harmless except and till confirmed responsible in a court docket of legislation.

Former metropolis council candidate faces playing costs in Kinston Fb probe

In line with Gambling America, Blackwell is a former metropolis council candidate and well-known group activist. She has confronted authorized scrutiny earlier than. In September, she was charged with perjury in reference to disclosures filed throughout her run for Kinston’s at-large metropolis council seat. Warrants allege she reported that her rights had been restored as of 2025, when police say they weren’t scheduled to be restored till 2028.

Blackwell later filed an election protest searching for a brand new vote, saying she had proof of irregularities. The State Board of Elections reviewed her claims final week throughout a gathering in Raleigh and denied the request.

Featured picture: Kinston Police Division through Fb

The submit Kinston police arrest former council candidate in alleged Facebook gambling investigation appeared first on ReadWrite.

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