A convenience store owner was charged Monday with running gaming devices in his business, according to charging documents. (Neirfy, Shutterstock)
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SALT LAKE CITY — A man accused of running gaming machines in his Salt Lake convenience store was criminally charged on Monday.
Ranjit Kahler, 54, of West Valley City, was charged in 3rd District Court by the Utah Attorney General’s Office on Monday on five counts of having a fringe gaming device, four third-degree felonies and a class A misdemeanor.
Undercover police detectives went to the Pennywise convenience store, 1245 S. 900 West, starting in November and found “20 gaming consoles with four devices attached together and affixed to a single tabletop screen at five different stations throughout the store. The machines are labeled as ‘amusement devices’ but in fact are gaming machines in which the player inserts money and attempts to win a cash prize greater than his investments,” according to charging documents.
The winners are then paid out in cash by the store clerks, the charges state.
Kahler is the manager of the store, according to prosecutors. The state is also seeking the forfeiture of property that was seized at the store when agents served search warrants, including more than $27,000 cash, 20 gaming devices and five table-top displays.
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Pat Reavy is a police and courts reporter at KSL.com.
