Illegal Lexington County Gambling Ring Case Concludes With Final Sentencing

A long-running illegal gambling operation in Lexington County has officially reached its conclusion in federal court, with the final defendant avoiding prison but receiving strict oversight moving forward.

Last Defendant Sentenced in Federal Gambling Case

James O. Helms, a 73-year-old man from Chapin, was sentenced this week to five years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in an illegal gambling business. U.S. District Judge Sherri Lydon also ordered Helms to pay a $10,000 fine, refrain from all forms of gambling, and submit to frequent drug testing. As part of his sentence, Helms must also participate in a gambling addiction treatment program.

Helms was the last individual sentenced in a five-person conspiracy that prosecutors said generated massive profits through an unlicensed video poker operation in Lexington County. According to court records, the business at times brought in as much as $100,000 per week, operating daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and requiring multiple shifts of workers to keep the machines running.

The illegal operation centered around video poker-style machines, including titles such as Joker Poker, Keno, Deuces Wild, and Jacks or Better. The machines were housed at multiple properties tied to co-defendant Fred McCary, a well-known local businessman who prosecutors described as the leader of the operation. McCary was sentenced last October to six months in federal prison, followed by six months of home confinement, along with a $1 million forfeiture.

Personal Struggles Surface During Sentencing

While Helms avoided incarceration, his case drew attention for the personal struggles highlighted during sentencing. His attorney told the court that Helms developed an addiction to prescription painkillers and turned to gambling in an effort to fund that dependency. 

According to the defense, Helms credited his arrest with saving his life and apologized to the court, saying drugs and gambling had destroyed his future. Judge Lydon allowed Helms to enter drug treatment prior to sentencing, a decision his attorney described as unusually compassionate.

The investigation began in 2023 after a tip to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office described gambling machines, violence, and firearms at one of the properties. Federal authorities, including the U.S. Secret Service and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, later took over the case.

The sentencing also underscores South Carolina’s hard-line stance on gambling. The state remains one of the few in the country with a near-total ban, allowing only the lottery, limited charitable gaming, and daily fantasy sports. 

Alex Warren

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