North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement special agents, along with Thomasville police arrested four employees and the owner of a Thomasville nightclub over the weekend on charges of selling alcohol without a permit, gambling and drug possession.
Edmond Anderson, 58, of Thomasville, the owner and operator of The Men in Motion Club, 803 Martin Luther King Drive, was charged with selling alcoholic beverages without a permit, possession of cocaine and marijuana, conducting an illegal raffle and an illegal lottery, gambling, and numerous violations of the Alcoholic Beverage Control laws.
Members of ALE, Thomasville Police Department and Homeland Security executed the search warrant at 10:15 p.m., July 24 at the illegal outlet. About 30 patrons were inside.
Community members complained about the nightclub and alleged Anderson and his employees were selling alcoholic beverages without ABC permits and allowing patrons to use and distribute controlled substances at the location. Law enforcement reports also show the club was cited for past drug and alcohol violations and violent assaults and homicides occurred on the property.
Law enforcement officers seized 30 liters of spirituous liquor, 106 liters of malt beverages, one liter of non-taxpaid liquor (moonshine), three grams of cocaine, a gram of marijuana, one handgun, brass knuckles, a 1998 Ford pickup truck used to transport the alcohol, televisions, disc jockey equipment and $1,715 in U.S currency from the location. Some of the patrons were arrested on outstanding arrest warrants.
During the course of the investigation, ALE special agents found Anderson was conducting an illegal raffle in violation of the North Carolina gambling laws and exceeding the occupancy capacity established for the building. The Thomasville Fire Marshal was also on hand during the raid. The following were arrested and charged:
Edmond Anderson
, owner/operator, 58, of Thomasville
- Possession of cocaine
- Possession of marijuana
- Maintaining a building to keep controlled substances
- Conducting illegal raffle • Gambling • Conducting illegal lottery
- Allowing consumption of alcoholic beverages in a room where a lottery was being conducted
- Selling alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit
- Possessing alcoholic beverages for the purpose for sale without an ABC permit
- Possessing nontax-paid alcoholic beverages
- Possession of spirituous liquor on a premises not authorized by ABC law
Robin Yvonne Steele
, employee, 59, of Thomasville
- Selling alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit
- Possessing alcoholic beverages for the purpose for sale without an ABC permit
Teresa Laverne Horne
, employee, 47, of Thomasville
- Selling alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit
- Possessing alcoholic beverages for the purpose for sale without an ABC permit
Juanita Mock
, employee, 40, of Thomasville
- Selling alcoholic beverages without an ABC permit
- Possessing alcoholic beverages for the purpose for sale without an ABC permit
George Anthony Smith
, employee, 49, of Greensboro
- Aiding and abetting the sale of alcoholic beverages without an ABC permits
- Carrying a concealed weapon
- Engaging in protective services without being in compliance of State law
Anderson was placed in the Davidson Detention Center under a $20,000 secured bond set by the magistrate and the other employees were released on a written promise. Their court appearance is set for August 12.
North Carolina ALE Special Agent in Charge Mike Yates said locations such as these attract drug dealers and violence which strain law enforcement services. “This is part ALE’s Community Betterment initiative which partners with local law enforcement to help shut down these types of locations and improve the quality of life for the surrounding community,” Yates said.
ALE agents have the authority to arrest and take investigatory action for any criminal offense. Their primary responsibility is the enforcement of Alcoholic Beverage Control laws and state lottery laws.