According to authorities, three men were arrested on Thursday, Oct. 6 in Hall County for illegal gambling following a multi-agency undercover investigation that was led by the Hall County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit.
The suspects were arrested at three different gas stations in different parts of the county. The Hall County Sheriff’s Office said that each suspect operated a convenience store that had gambling machines where players were paid in cash. Each suspect has been charged with felony commercial gambling and misdemeanor keeping a place of gambling.
Harun Ur Rashid, 63, of Buford was arrested at a convenience store located at 5800 block of Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford. Zafar Iqbal Ranjha, 61, of Flowery Branch was taken into custody at a store in the 5400 block of GA 13/Atlanta Highway in Flowery Branch. The third suspect, Shajumon Philip, 58, of Marietta was arrested in the 4400 block of GA 365/Cornelia Highway in Lula.
All three suspects were booked into the Hall County Jail and were released on bond.
The Hall County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Unit was assisted by the HCSO Uniform Patrol Division and Warrant Service Unit deputies, as well as Flowery Branch Police Officers and inspectors with the Georgia Lottery Corporation Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAM) Division.
HCSO said the case remains under investigation. They do not anticipate any furthers arrests in connection with this case.
