Former El Reno Councilman Charged In Connection With Illegal Gambling

A former El Reno city councilman was charged in connection to a 2013 Homeland Security investigation involving illegal gambling.

Investigators said he was running the operation out the bar he owns.

The investigation began from a tip received by the Homeland Security back in 2008.  

Over the course of the next eight years, investigators worked to build the case culminating in the arrest of the bar's owner.

Gilmore's Pub and Barefoot Bar is just a few doors down from El Reno's City Hall where the bar's owner once sat in city council meetings.

Mark Gilmore has been charged with violating the anti-commercial gambling act.

The investigation into Gilmore started in 2010.

Over the course of three years, undercover investigators stopped by the bar pretending to be patrons but were really there to "determine if illegal gambling was taking place inside."

According to court documents, federal investigators reported finding anywhere between six to 10 slot machines in the bar and  witness multiple winners given money when they asked to cash out.

Investigators seized eight electronic gambling devices and money during a search warrant three years ago.

That day, an employee told an investigator that $2,500 was set aside at the beginning of the day and was "used for 'pay outs' to customers that won on the gambling devices."

Gilmore's arrest was the result of the conviction of Adlai Brinkley of Star Amusement Inc.

Investigators said Brinkley was Gilmore's business partner who took half the illegal gambling profits.