Portsmouth gambling suspects in court

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - Illegal gaming cafes popped up in Portsmouth earlier this year. WAVY.com went undercover and investigated the businesses for about two months. In July, only WAVY.com was there when police raided the two businesses at the center of our investigation.

Today, the five people arrested in the raid were in court. The judge heard from prosecutors who claim police uncovered a gambling operation using video slot machines, but defense attorneys argued customers were simply playing a legal sweepstakes games.

The judge was trying to figure out if what was happening was illegal gambling.

Robert Judd owned both Lucky Dawg One and Two. The businesses were located on Airline and Victory Boulevards.

"This is not gambling," Judd told WAVY.com. "I'm not doing anything wrong. I've been a law abiding citizen my whole life."

The judge decided Judd's case will now go before a grand jury. The judge found two employees, Jerome Wicks and Kenji Crocker were guilty in their roles at the businesses. The case against a third employee Donnell Cherry was dismissed. Though Judd's case is still pending, he believes Thursday's outcome was a win.

"I'm very happy to be honest with you," Judd added. "I'm going to be completely exonerated."

One of Judd's managers was Emma Cummings. Cummings' case will also go before the grand jury. Thursday she testified against her fellow defendants.