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State of Play
- A Galveston County task force executed a major sting in Hitchcock, TX, that led to felony charges against Mayor Chris Armacost and the seizure of 749 gaming machines and over $400,000 in cash.
- The raids, which included a search at City Hall and a washeteria tied to the mayor, allege a nearly $900,000 illegal gambling enterprise.
Galveston County’s multi-agency task force served 21 search warrants across 20 locations in Hitchcock, TX, last week.
Authorities seized 749 gaming machines and more than $400,000 in cash.
They said the raids targeted game rooms, convenience stores, and a washeteria that the local Chamber of Commerce linked to Mayor Chris Armacost. Armacost, who also serves as assistant superintendent for Hitchcock Independent School District, has been charged with felony offenses tied to what investigators describe as a nearly $900,000 illegal gambling operation.
Sheriff Jimmy Fullen told reporters he met with Armacost months earlier to give the city a chance to clean up activity and that he felt personally misled when a warrant named the mayor. Armacost has bonded out and issued a statement saying he’s charged as a private business owner, not as a public official, and that he will contest the case in court rather than in the media.
City books might be audited
The sting highlights the risks of using unregulated, cash-heavy gaming sites. Machines and cash were seized during the raids, meaning players using these venues could lose access to funds and face service disruptions.
For operators, the sweep increases legal and financial exposure: business owners tied to similar ‘‘game rooms’’ or sweepstakes-style operations may face raids, seizure of inventory, and criminal charges. Municipalities are also under the microscope. Sheriff and the district attorney are pursuing a potential forensic audit of city books after allegations that illegal revenue was used to pad the annual budget.
The district attorney says he’s coordinating with federal partners on a possible forensic audit of Hitchcock’s finances, which could uncover broader misconduct or municipal liability. Armacost’s fate on the mayoral and ISD roles will depend on the city charter and forthcoming legal action.
He says he will defend himself in court.
Based on reporting by Fox 26 Houston.
