Olive Branch bingo supervisor charged with felony by state Gaming Commission

Sunday, April 30, 2000 | 12:38 p.m.

The charge, issued Friday, accused Debbie Emerson, 45, of Memphis, of refusing commission agents access to the church's charitable gaming records in January.

During an appearance in Justice Court Friday, additional mail fraud charges were filed because Emerson asserted neither she, nor any of her family members had ever been involved with any bingo operations in Mississippi.

Gaming Commission investigators said that wasn't the case.

Emerson was first arrested Jan. 7 and charged with failing to turn over financial records to the commission as required by state law.

Rick Ward, head of the charitable bingo division for the commission, said at the time of the arrest that the church run bingo parlor had failed to turn over the records for the past two years.

The church and bingo hall are located in a building off Mississippi 78. The church moved to DeSoto County several years ago from Memphis after the state of Tennessee outlawed bingo.

Gaming commission agents are expected to present the latest evidence on the mail fraud charges to the DeSoto County grand jury in June.

If convicted, Emerson could face five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.