Police in Maryland’s Anne Arundel County have received a check of $470,407.62 from the US Government. Specifically, the payment comes from Homeland Security Investigations, who issued the check in recognition of the department’s role in the Black Friday poker seizures.
According to the Odenton branch of Patch.com, “Federal investigators shared the money after county detectives helped in an investigation that seized more than $33 million from gambling organizations using banks in Guam and Charlotte, NC.”
The same article states that the police will use the newly acquired cash for new vehicles, weapons, and advanced equipment to aide in their current undercover investigations. The department normally receives around $250,000 each year, making this the largest single chunk of income in the unit’s history.
As legitimate as the need may be for these law enforcement upgrades, this comes as something of a slap to America’s online poker populace. With millions of users still waiting for a chance to cash out, seeing Black Friday money purchase new equipment for a far-away police force is something of a gut punch.
“This type of activity exists in this county just like it does in other jurisdictions,” said Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold. “Wherever we find it, we’re going to root it out.”
This could be the first in a string of such cash releases, assuming a minimal public backlash. As mentioned before, the department’s efforts were part of a probe which netted more than $33 million in illegal cash.