Eagles gambling case resolved, charges reduced or dismissed

Eagles gambling case resolved, charges reduced or dismissed

LUDINGTON — A group of four people who had been charged with various gambling charges that allegedly took place at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 108 S. Harrison St., recently appeared in 79th District Court. Originally, each person was charged with three felonies including gambling, gambling house permitting for gain and gambling house maintaining for gain. Charges were reduced to a misdemeanor charge of gambling activities for three of the defendants and were completely dropped for a fourth. 

Arraigned in November 2022 following their arrest by Ludington Police Department were: George Alan Karl, 65 of Ludington, Thomas Lee Johnson, 62, of Scottville, Gary Lee Mallion, 72, of Ludington, and Suann Marie Mortensen, 52, of Ludington. 

Charges against Karl were dismissed today by District Court Judge John Middlebrook “in the interest of justice,” according to Mason County Magistrate Glenn Jackson III. The other three were received delayed sentences by Judge Middlebrook.

“The investigation involved the interviewing of several witnesses and suspects,” Ludington Police Department Interim Chief Steve Wietrzykowski said last November. The State of Michigan Liquor Control Commission and the Internal Revenue Service were notified of the situation, however the case was mostly handled by LPD, Wietrzykowski said.

“It is unknown if the IRS or LCC are going to follow up with any measures,” Wietrzykowski said in November.

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