Last week’s move by the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to seize more than 750 video poker machines at an abandoned warehouse in Swansea, S.C. produced some interesting new information in the saga of the “Lexington Ring.”
Of course South Carolina’s mainstream media – as usual – hasn’t connected the dots.
For those of you waking up from a year-long nap, the “Ring” is a cabal of corrupt politicians and crooked cops who have been running a secret video poker empire based out of Lexington County, S.C. for years. This operation was exposed a year ago when one of its alleged members – a Lexington, S.C. town councilman named Danny Frazier – was surreptitiously recorded detailing its inner workings to a prospective client.
Since then the drama has waxed … and waned.
The latest? Nothing really … we’re told indictments are coming, but there is no timetable.
Anyway, we were curious when a story in The (Columbia, S.C.) State newspaper listed the owner of the warehouse where the machines were stored as a company called GLR LLC. This company lists its headquarters at 6356 St. Andrews Boulevard in Columbia, S.C. – a building which is also home to Four Star Realty, Tera Industries, BB&E Corp., and Bauer Enterprises.
Wait … Bauer Enterprises? Yup … that would be the company owned by former S.C. Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer.
FITS readers will recall that Bauer is tight with former S.C. Sen. Jakie Knotts, one of several Midlands, S.C. area politicians who have been linked to the ring. He’s also reportedly close to Lanny Ray Gunter, the bookie who copped a plea back in January in exchange for a five-month prison sentence. Gunter has also been mentioned as a possible member of the “Ring.”
Bauer tells FITS he sold the property in question more than a decade ago – which checks out with property records. He also says that Gunter is a “friend” but that the two have had no business dealings together for many years (Gunter owns several legitimate businesses in addition to his now-defunct gambling business).
More to the point, unlike Knotts, Lexington County Sheriff Jimmy Metts and Columbia, S.C. mayor Steve Benjamin – Bauer was not one of the politicians mentioned on the “Lexington Ring” recordings, nor has his name ever been mentioned in connection with the ring by any of our sources.
As we’ve stated from the beginning of this drama, we support all forms of legalized gambling – including video poker. In fact these scandals have only heightened our resolve to integrate them into the free market – eliminating the current government-run gambling monopoly (as well as all of this backdoor corruption). But we cannot abide by elected officials and law enforcement officers applying a double standard.
That’s the sort of corruption this state cannot tolerate …
26 comments
Should rename “Unconnecting Dots”, nothing to this article……..add a name to the Group, like Cassidy, then maybe we would be getting somewhere!
The same guy owns all of these except for Bauer…Move along, no story here.
I hear he owns Bauer too.
I would bet that you are right.
Alan Wilson will never ever indict well connected white politicians. Henry McMaster did not and simply put, this is how the game is payed.Indictment puts his campaign donors and friends at risk.
When the warehouse “caught on fire” why didn’t SLED call Jimmy Metts. He is rumored to be the guy who is responsible for Law Enforcement in Lexington County. Actually there has been no word from Jimmy about this raid. I heard the FBI are going to do a multiple State indictments (Florida, Georgia, North Carolina) charging corruption (possible RECCO). The reason for delays is so much Criminal Activity requires more investigation.
RECCO? Back in my specops days that’s what we called reconnaissance missions (“recco work”). I think you probably meant RICO, which is the acronym commonly used to describe federal charges stemming from the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act…
Thanks, There are so many acronyms and so little spell checking.
It would have to be the Feds. SC law enforcement never jails anyone. They tend to protect successful criminals, not prosecute them.
I am of the opinion 90% or more of the politicians are me first and corrupt in America.
NOTHING will happen until at the earliest AFTER November, 2013. That’s when the “open” hearings on Jean Toal will close. Toal is Knotts’ protector. Knotts was Toal’s number 1 cheerleader and Senate support for years. Toal still has huge chits to call in at SLED. Any legislator who votes for Toal needs to be held accountable. Write it down. NOTHING until after November. Keel? Grow a pair to quit and go fishing with Joe and Alan.
I saw Metz eating supper with a poker baron in Greenwood SC back in 1998.
Woo hoo SLED wasted how many man-hours, men, and funds to bust these evil machines? Meanwhile gangs are running rampant all over Columbia shooting people left and right, domestic violence continues unabated, dog fighting rings are prevalent, and on and on. I just find it funny that Repubtards who constantly rail about federal government intrusion into people’s lives and wallets find it necessary to dictate to us how we spend our money. If I want to play video poker or blackjack that’s my damn business not those drunken whore-mongering Legislators.
It’s not just the Repuklicrats. It’s the Demoshites as well.
Apparently you have never heard of a poker machine junkyard. It works like this son so listen up. These days it costs money to dispose of anything on a commercial level. A computer, a pile of shingles, old wood, disposed equipment, etc.
Now, as an operator I could pay to have 700 machines landfilled and also get a fine for being in possession of said machines. Or, I can give my buddies in LE a chance to make some press with a huge seizure, and at the same time, save myself a huge headache and considerable expense.
They were junk. They were worn, torn, ugly and obsolete. Now they are the states problem. Oh, and don’t give me all that dribble about circuit board gold and other precious metals. Garbage. SLED’s garbage.
Lord, Lord, Lord…
As someone pointed out on the last post, isn’t GLR as in GLR LLC Gunter’s initials if you start with his last name?
No – the principles of GLR, LLC are Gary Watts, Larry Pyle and Rick Brady.
We simply need a strong attorney general in this state. We have not had one in decades. A man or woman that cared about enforcing the law could easily change this state in a short period of time.
We need a non-attorney as attorney general. Someone to provide leadership and energy but not someone beholding to the legal community which, after all, as complete vested interest in a weak AG.
Allen Wilson is a politician, We need a crusader that will swat these thugs like the two bit hoodlums they are.
“We simply need…” CERN to release there organics only implosion bomb with a higher capacity. We drop one on every gubmint building there is.
Sure we’ll have to replace some paneling, desks and wood doors
https://www.fitsnews.com/2012/09/28/doors-to-nowhere-in-nikki-haleys-cabinet/
But hey, What’s a little paneling and doors among friends. Especially when there will be fewer Republicrats and Demlicans around to screw up our lives? :)
DITTO! Right now, Alan Wilson is spending Taxpayer money to defend BMW from illegal EEOC hiring practices. It’s outrageous.
BMW has nearly 75% of their SC workers as Temporary. Even though, many have been listed as such for over: 10 years. BMW is the poster child for abusing SC workers. Now, they are threatening to move to a factory in Mexico if they lose this lawsuit.
SC’s answer should be: Go Ahead, move your butt to Mexico. Then SC will use all it’s power in DC to have the USA put massive tariffs on every single BMW car, or car part, that tries to re-enter the USA. Effectively: blocking BMW from selling cars and parts in the USA. That’s the way to deal with A-holes like BMW. Be tough!!! Not spending SC Taxpayer money defending these wage slavers.
Also, BMW has blocked numerous other companies from coming to SC. Including, but certainly not limited too: Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and many others. BMW has cost SC many more jobs than they have created.
If BMW whats to stay in SC, then it needs to treat their SC employees with respect and full benefits. And, stop asking SC taxpayers to pick up their workers benefit packages, and defending them against justified Federal Lawsuits.
a “non-attorney as attorney general.” Think about the logic of that proposition.
This isn’t CSI, it’s the South and “Boss Hawg” lives
GLR stands for Gary Watts, Larry Pyle, Richard Brady.
If SLED really wanted to do an investigation and find the problem, they could have by now.
Why are a Coroner, a Pawn hack, and a Real estate agent involved in business dealings related to a record 750 poker machine bust?
Dig deep on the relationship of these three men and you may find more answers.
Specifically, analyze Larry Pyle. It won’t take much.
Are creepy antics and backdoor dealings normal for legitimate business people?
They shouldn’t be.
When people use their influence, or their relationship with people of influence, to antagonize and harm decent law abiding citizens, they should be investigated.
When people act like stalkers and harass you with no legal repercussion, some serious questions should be asked about why they are being allowed by local law enforcement to do as they please.
As long as the corrupt element of our society continues to prosper at the expense of decent and moral people, these problems will continue.
As long as the powers that be remain fixed on protecting their own, instead of performing their elected function, these problems will repeat, endlessly.
The connection to Andre Bauer isn’t surprising.
Take a look back at campaign donations of the last few election cycles. You’ll see a pattern.
The back scratching has reached absurd levels.
The greed and criminality of power-hungry good ole boys is directly related to their association with questionable politicians, their campaign donation expenditures, their shady business dealings performed by obscurely named LLC’s, and their history of transgressions against others without any legal consequence.
How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?
First.. this will never end, but if it does.. can we finally un name the I77 / I26 interchange??? It disgusts me to see LT GOV – Senator Andrea Bauer interchange every time i go through there! As much disrespect as that guy had for traffic safety we shouldn’t name a go cart track after him.
Has anyone herd of Danny’s teenage friend that put out campaign signs for him? How many tickets has he gotten dismissed the past few years?? Also heard he stole a trackhoe from saluda river club and Frazier and Mets somehow always manage to slip him out of trouble… Also I’m pretty sure the teen knows everything about all of the poker warehouses and also the kid has security footage that he took before SLED could obtain it…… I’m surprised there’s not more talk about this than there is…. Now I’m starting to see why the teen gets out of everything.. It’s because he knows to much for them to let him go…. Rumor around lexington is the same teenager that is a senior at lexington high school is now helping Alan Wilson.