What began as an investigation into illegal slot machine payouts has led to the discovery of more than 2,000 bootleg CDs and DVDs.
Seven Smyrna convenience stores peddled the illegally reproduced material, valued at $37,289.93, according to officer Michael Smith.
A total 2,207 CDs and 124 DVDs were seized from the stores, where they were on display for purchase.
“There were some where the album work looked like it had been done on an ink jet printer,” Smith said. “We don’t run across this all the time.”
Six of the store owners have been arrested, and an arrest warrant was issued Thursday for the seventh owner, Smith said. All seven face felony charges .
After a two and a half month undercover investigation, warrants were issued for the following store owners:
-- Sridhar Nadipineni, 37, Atlanta, Shell Gas Station, 875 Windy Hill Road
-- Chirag S. Patel, 48, Suwanee, Citgo Quick Food Mart, 540 Concord Road
-- Hussain Dhanai, 30, Peachtree City, 677 Concord Road
-- Salin Gillani, of Lilburn, 1166 Concord Road
-- Farh Mohammed, Kennesaw, 2539 Old Concord Road
-- Nizar Sohani, Lawrenceville, 475 Windy Hill Road
Four store clerks also have been arrested for allegedly giving illegal payouts on video slot machines, according to police.
Earlier this month, an undercover officer went inside the businesses during operating hours and played video slot machines. The undercover officer was paid in cash and in Georgia Lottery tickets for the winnings from these machines, in excess of $5.
More than $56,000 in cash was seized and the game machines ordered to be removed, according to Smith.
The stores and the arrested clerks include:
-- Faith Abdulshakur, 21, Atlanta, Mobile Gas Station, 3100 Highlands Parkway
-- Subodh Gautam, 58, Powder Springs, Shell Station, 677 Concord Road
-- Abdoulie Bah, 31, Smyrna, Marathon Station, 2691 South Cobb Drive
-- Mohammed Karzoun, 42, Kennesaw, Smyrna Food Mart, 1828 Spring Road
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