At least nine people charged with racketeering in Houston County

At least nine people have been arrested on racketeering charges and are free on bond ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, Houston County jail records show.

Warner Robins police released the identities of eight people charged in connection with illegal gambling practices. A ninth person also charged with racketeering was not on that list.

When asked for clarificaton, Jennifer Parson, public information officer for Warner Robins police, said in an email that the ninth person turned himself in at the Houston County jail.

According to police, those arrested are:

▪  Deepak Bajaj, 41, of Warner Robins, charged with racketeering, free on a $150,000 bond.

▪  Rebecca Bajaj, 41, of Warner Robins, charged with racketeering, free on a $50,000 bond.

▪  Ankitkumar Patel, 28, of Centerville, charged with racketeering, free on a $100,000 bond.

▪  Babubhai Patel, 55, of Centerville, charged with racketeering, free on a $100,000 bond.

▪  Kanaiyalal Patel, 55, of Centerville, charged with racketeering, free on a $150,000 bond.

▪  Kapilaben Patel, 51, of Centerville, charged with racketeering, free on a $50,000 bond.

▪  Richa Patel, 26, of Centerville, charged with racketeering, free on a $100,000 bond.

▪  Herdeep Singh Sanghera, 48, of Macon, charged with racketeering, free on a $150,000 bond.

The ninth person who turned himself was:

▪  Pulkit Patel, 21, of Centerville, charged with racketeering, free on a $50,000 bond.

All were charged under Georgia’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.

Tuesday, authorities executed search warrants at several convenience stores in multiple jurisdictions.

The raids were conducted by multiple agencies in Warner Robins, Centerville, Macon, Milledgeville and Jackson, police said.

The joint investigation led authorities to several businesses and residences “in reference to records, documents and proceeds on illegal gambling practices,” according to a police news release.

The stores are:

▪  Gas & Food Mart, 750 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins;

▪  Gas & Food Mart, 1660 Watson Blvd.,Warner Robins;

▪  Shell, 4331 Pio Nono Ave., Macon;

▪  Citgo Petroleum, 1803 Pio Nono Ave., Macon;

▪  MM Gas & Food Mart, 2769 Montpelier Ave., Macon;

▪  Valero, 1290 Gray Highway, Macon;

▪  7-11 Petroleum, 1904 Shurling Drive, Macon;

▪  PB Gas & Food, 4765 Riverside Drive, Macon;

▪  Jackson 76, 209 East Third St., Jackson;

▪  Family Korner, 191 West Andrews St., Milledgeville;

▪  Crossroads Spirits, 3510 North U.S. 41 Suite 2105, Centerville.

The residences are:

▪  701 Arbor Lane, Centerville, the address listed on the arrest report for Babubhai Patel and Pulkit Patel;

▪  108 Vanguard Court, Centerville, the address listed on the arrest report for Kanaiyalal Patel, Kapilaben Patel, Richa Patel and Ankitkumar Patel;

▪  6080 Lakeview Road, No. 3801, Warner Robins, the address listed for Deepak Bajaj and Rebecca Bajaj;

▪  304 Montview Way, Centerville.

The investigation was conducted by the Warner Robins Police Department, the state Department of Revenue, the state Lottery Corp. and the Houston County District Attorney’s Office.

The search warrants were executed with the help of Warner Robins, Milledgeville and Centerville police, Bibb County and Butts County sheriff’s offices, the state Department of Revenue, the state Lottery Corp. and the U.S. Marshal Service’s Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force.

Parson declined to release additional details about the investigation, which she said is ongoing.

In recent years, authorities across Middle Georgia have targeted dozens of stores related to illegal gambling practices.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 3:40 PM with the headline "At least nine people charged with racketeering in Houston County."