Former video gambling operator Henry Ingram arrested

Henry Ingram, of Hilton Head Island, was charged with unlawful possession of gambling devices Thursday, State Law Enforcement Division spokesman Hugh Munn said.

"I was shocked," Ingram said in a telephone interview. "We're going to fight it."

Ingram allowed three video gambling machines to be kept at his Cherry Point General Store in Ridgeland after the machines became illegal contraband, according to the arrest warrant.

Circuit Judge Gerald Smoak granted Ingram a temporary injunction on June 30th, allowing him to keep his machines running for 10 days. But the state Supreme Court stepped in at Attorney General Charlie Condon's urging and lifted the injunction hours before the ban went into effect.

"This is a personal vendetta against me because I have been so adamant against the Republicans," Ingram said. Condon is a Republican.

Ingram knew the law and was clearly breaking the law by operating the machines after the deadline, Condon spokesman Robb McBurney said.

"He's obviously trying to blame somebody for his troubles but it's misplaced," McBurney said.

Munn said SLED agents arrested Ingram after he returned home from a trip out of the country. But Ingram said he had been in South Carolina for several months.

Ingram was released on bond Thursday.

Two weeks ago, SLED agents arrested eight people and charged them with unlawful possession of video gambling machines and parts. Fourteen machines were found at one Lancaster storage facility while 21 other machines were found in homes and businesses around the state.

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