The Galveston County Sheriff's Office has arrested Hitchcock Mayor, Christopher Armacost, for allegedly engaging in criminal activity. Armacost is accused of running an illegal gaming room using his laundromat. Sheriff Jimmy Fullen with the Galveston County Sheriff's office says the county is cracking down on the illegal activity- Armacost also serves as an assistant superintendent at Hitchcock ISD.
Authorities say a county lieutenant allegedly got a tip about the laundromat having 8-liner machines.
Two officials went undercover, used machines at the laundromat, and brought their prize tickets to an attendant. Records say the attendant paid one official from a cash register at her desk, and she paid the other with money from a safe under her desk. The attendant was identified as Nancy Landreth who was arrested on an outstanding warrant.
"We've hired former Hitchcock Police officers that are giving us all the information about the robberies and the assaults that have occurred outside this gaming establishment. So, it's not just a mom-and-pop shop- it brings a criminal element- you've got prostitution, illegal narcotics trafficking, you saw we had the weapons that we've recovered from some of these places. These are criminal enterprises. We are going to shut them down." Fullen said.
Authorities have executed a warrant to search 20 locations tied to the sting.
Armacost is currently out on bond. According to Galveston County court records, Mayor Armacost is the sole owner of Comfort Zone Washateria.
The sheriff's office says following several complaints, the office launched its own investigation that resulted in the arrest of the mayor and 32 other people.