Roseville Tanning Salon Busted For Having 43 Illegal Slot Machines; Owner Pleads Guilty

DETROIT (WWJ) - The owner of a Roseville tanning salon where police uncovered dozens of illegal slot machines has issued a guilty plea in the case.

Ammar Victor Kattoula, 38, admitted in 39th District Court to operating an illegal sweepstakes café at Island Vibe Tanning on Utica Road, just north of Common Road.

Investigators with the Michigan Gaming Control Board provided information that helped the Roseville police execute a search warrant Dec. 18 at Island Vibe Tanning. While there, officers discovered 43 illegal slot machines, all of which were seized.

"It's like any type of business that is regulated — there's laws and licenses that you must have," said Roseville Police Chief James Berlin. "And, in this case here, they're not reporting their income to the Internal Revenue Service; the taxes aren't being paid."

"You're getting people in that are coming to this area that may not be able to afford to do this type of gaming," Berlin added. "And you don't know about the legitimacy of the game's you're planing. How are these computers set up? Does anybody win? Or is everybody who walks in the door an automatic loser, because that's the way they're programmed?"

Berlin said the slot machines were pretty much sitting out in the open, set up on computers.

Kattoula was arraigned Jan. 15 and charged with a 90-day misdemeanor under a city ordinance.

"Our agency works hand-in-hand with state and local police agencies and the Attorney General's office to find and eliminate unlicensed gambling operations and the unwanted crime that accompanies them," Richard Kalm, executive director of the state gaming board, said in a statement. "I encourage Michigan citizens to use our anonymous tip line, 888-314-2682, to report any illegal or suspicious activity and help us stop illegal gambling in Michigan."