CONTACT:  Patty Mayers, Communications Director

608.266.2300 or [email protected]

The Chippewa County Circuit Court found Melissa S. Christianson of Eleva guilty of intentionally and unlawfully permitting video gambling machines to be set up for use for the purpose of gambling in a place under her control and for operating as a seller without a seller’s permit. Ms. Christianson plead no contest.

According to the criminal complaint, a June 2017 investigation by Special Agents of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Office of Criminal Investigation, Alcohol & Tobacco Enforcement Unit found that Christianson was operating her bar after her seller’s permit had been revoked. During the investigation, Christianson was found to be in possession of five operational video gambling machines at the tavern.

The court fined Christianson for the video gambling violation and required that the motherboards taken from the video gambling machines be forfeited as contraband. Christianson also entered a plea of a 12-month agreement with the Diversion and Deferred Prosecution Program. If Christianson successfully completes the program, the charge for operating after the seller’s permit had been revoked will be reduced to an ordinance for disorderly conduct.

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