(Editors note: An attorney for VFW Texas says Melton is only a part of the VFW Foundation and is not the VFW Post State Commander). The next day, the officer met with Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6873 Commander Melvin Harper and Paul Melton who was identified by APD as Veterans of Foreign Wars Post State Commander. 30, 2016, he went back to the VFW post and put $60 onto the card and won $20. He went to the bar and received $51 in cash. After playing all his credits, his winnings totaled $51. If the correct symbols match, then the game awards a prize amount.' The officer bet $1.20 per turn. The game had rotating columns with symbols that spin and stop. He began playing a game which 'resembled a slot machine. The officer said he got a sweepstakes card from the bartender 'necessary for playing the computer gambling machines.' The officer took the card to an ATM and loaded $20 worth of credits onto the card. He entered the VFW post 'in an undercover capacity,' according to the affidavit for evidentiary warrant. Police served a search warrant Thursday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6873, near the main entrance to Dyess Air Force Base, after a year-long undercover investigation.Īccording to the 'return on search warrant' obtained by KTXS, police seized $2,197 in cash, gambling computers, a checkbook, documents, VFW sweepstakes cards, picture frame with odds of winning and a V-Sweeps register.Ī member of APD's Special Operations Division started the investigation on July 5, 2016. ABILENE, Texas - The Abilene Police Department is locked in a battle with local veterans.

Texas vfw gambling lawsuit