Yadkin Road poker bust nets 40 people, $21,000

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Yadkin Road poker bust nets 40 people, $21,000
By Nancy McClearyStaff writer

Police seized $21,000, drugs and weapons when they raided an illegal poker game in a building off Yadkin Road on Friday.

Misdemeanor citations were issued to 40 people, many of them identified as Fort Bragg soldiers, said Lt. Chris Davis of the Fayetteville Police Department.

The game operator was identified as Christian Lusardi, 36, of the 2500 block of Lullwater Drive, Davis said.

City police were assisted by state Alcohol Law Enforcement agents, he said.

Police received a complaint in March about a gambling house that was operating out of a building at 704-A Festus Ave., Davis said.

The cinder-block building had a bay door on the front, Davis said. There were three gambling tables, two pool tables and four large-screen televisions inside, he said.

About 40 people were there when officers arrived about 9:45 p.m., Davis said.

Officers seized about $12,000 from the patrons who were cited with a misdemeanor gambling violation, Davis said.

Between $6,000 and $7,000 was seized from the game that was operated by Christian Lusardi, 36, of the 2500 block of Lullwater Drive in the Birch Creek subdivisions, Davis said.

Officers also searched Lusardi’s home where they found $3,000, he said.

Searches of the vehicles that were at the gaming house turned up 57 Oxycodone pills, two pistols, a rifle and small amounts of crack cocaine and marijuana, Davis said.

State agents have charged Lusardi with alcohol violations, Davis said.

Bail information was not available.

Staff writer Nancy McCleary can be reached at mcclearyn@fayobserver.com or 486-3568.

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