CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After a raid of numerous fish table arcades in the Charlotte area, court documents obtained by WCNC Charlotte shed new light on why police call these establishments havens for criminal activity.
On April 17th, North Carolina law enforcement agencies orchestrated a multi-county raid of four gaming arcades and two houses in Mecklenburg, Gaston, and Wake Counties. A 31-page search warrant of the arcade in Matthews details several scary incidents that led up to the raids. The detectives allege peoples’ lives were in danger several times while at the establishment.
WCNC Charlotte has learned a years-long investigation into illegal gambling operations led up to the busts, which resulted in at least 11 arrests and 800 charges in Gaston and Mecklenburg counties.
Detectives seized hundreds of gambling machines, thousands of dollars, and at least two guns during the raids.
New details from the arcade warrant show several threats, gunshots, and armed robberies happened at the City Arcade on Independence Boulevard in Matthews. Detectives allege one of the arcade’s security guards robbed a customer at gunpoint.
The Nashar family allegedly runs these establishments. The warrant says two family members have lengthy criminal histories.
Nina Nashar’s record includes stealing, identity theft, and resisting arrest. Haissam Nashar was found guilty of paying two suspects to burn down a business in 2002. He was also involved in the federal “Operation Smokescreen,” which is tied to a Lebanese group the U.S. deems a terrorist organization.
According to court documents, several of Haissam Nashar's charges from the raid have been dismissed. Many of Nina Nashar's charges still stand, as she is listed as president of the alleged criminal enterprise in the warrant.
Nina Nashar has a hearing in Mecklenburg County on July 24.