The FBI says it seized more than a half million dollars worth of illegal electronic gambling machines, slot machines and cash in last year's raid in northern Idaho's Silver Valley.
The U.S. Department of Justice wants the assets forfeited, according to a statement filed with U.S. District Court.The FBI raided more than 64 bars and fraternal organizations in Shoshone and Kootenai counties on June 23, 1991, seizing what it said were illegal gambling devices or cash from 50 of them.
The raid also revealed a two-year federal investigation in the Silver Valley that resulted in charges against Shoshone County Sheriff Frank Crnkovich. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in March on charges of racketeering, gambling and obstruction of law enforcement.
The sheriff pleaded not guilty and faces trial Oct. 27 in Boise. He was defeated in the May 26 primary in his bid for re-election.
A forfeiture statement filed by the FBI lists $543,576 worth of gambling machines and devices, most of them computerized video poker machines listed as worth $4,000 each.
Six slot machines also were taken, valued by the FBI at $1,500 each. The documents said two were taken from the Shady Lady Saloon in Wardner and four from the Wallace Elks Club.
Agents also took a craps table, three numbers wheels, four blackjack tables and three poker tables from the Kellogg Elks Club.
In addition, federal agents seized $20,493 from the machines and took $6,083 from cash registers and safes in the 18 bars listed in the forfeiture statement.
FBI legal counsel Lee Rasmussen of Salt Lake City said the seized items will be retained both as evidence and contraband.
He said the purpose of the forfeiture statement is to give notice to any innocent partners of the affected businesses that the property is being held. If they believe they have a legitimate claim to the property, they have until Aug. 6 to contact the FBI's Salt Lake office.
Two vendors of the seized machines have pleaded guilty to federal gambling charges and have agreed to testify against Crnkovich. They are Terry Douglas, owner of Prendergast Amusement Equipment, Kellogg and L. Merrill Field, owner of North Idaho Sales of Wallace.
Federal officials said the two have admitted paying kickbacks to the sheriff for protecting their gambling enterprises from law enforcement agencies outside Shoshone County.