Fort Wayne Police Raid Convenience Store, Find Illegal Gambling and Fentanyl

Posted on: March 27, 2026, 12:03h. 

Last updated on: March 27, 2026, 10:31h.

Devin O'Connor @CasinoorgDevinO Read More
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  • A police raid in Fort Wayne found evidence allegedly tied to an illegal gambling operation
  • Along with illegal gambling, the defendants face numerous felony drug charges

The Allen County Sheriff’s Office reports in a news release that a search warrant executed at a convenience store in Fort Wayne turned up illegal gambling evidence, unregistered and stolen firearms, narcotics, and cash.

Fort Wayne Indiana illegal gambling
A raid of a convenience store in Fort Wayne resulted in the seizure of illegal firearms, drugs, and materials related to gambling. Two people have been charged and are facing decades in prison if convicted on all counts. (Image: Courtesy of Allen County Sheriff’s Office)

The Allen County Drug Task Force, in conjunction with the Allen County Police Department’s SWAT Team, executed the search warrant at the Lafayette Mart, located at 3511 South Lafayette Street, in Fort Wayne.

The raid, police said, found 79.7 grams of cocaine, more than four pounds of marijuana, and 6.2 grams of fentanyl. A stolen .45 Springfield pistol and an American Tactical Omni AR-15 were also seized.

Additional items confiscated were related to alleged illegal gambling, including pull-tabs. The Lafayette Mark is only four blocks from the South Side High School, where enrollment is about 1,500 students.

Two Arrested

The Allen County Sheriff’s Office executed a second search warrant on the same day as the Lafayette Mart operation. That sting was conducted at 1298 Switchfoot Drive and resulted in the seizure of additional firearms and illegal drugs.

Alex Brookshire and Makiyah Moore were subsequently arrested as a result of the raids. Brookshire and Moore jointly own and operate the Lafayette Mart.

This operation reflects the ongoing commitment of the Allen County Drug Task Force to dismantle drug distribution networks and remove dangerous narcotics from Allen County. The Task Force continues to work with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to combat the scourge of drug trafficking and protect the safety and health of residents in our community,” the sheriff’s news release read.

Possessing more than 28 grams of cocaine, a Level 3 felony, is punishable in Indiana by three to 16 years in state prison. A person who operates an illegal gambling den can also face felony charges.

Brookshire and Moore have been charged with numerous crimes, including dealing in cocaine, narcotics possession, facilitating illegal gambling, and possession of unregistered firearms.

Alabama Gambling Raid

In Alabama, a state where most forms of gambling are outlawed, including lottery, casino, sports betting, and parimutuel wagering, a police raid in Alexander City turned up 32 illegal gambling machines.

After receiving multiple complaints of illegal gambling at a business located in the 1400 block of Hillabee Street, law enforcement obtained a warrant and confiscated the unregulated slots during the search. The police release didn’t detail the business, but Koon’s Korner, a gas station and convenience store, is at 1460 Hillabee.

The Alexander City Police Department was assisted by the Dadeville Police Department and Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office in carrying out the raid.

Illegal gambling machines are often programmed to dismal payout rates, far below the minimum requirements found in commercial and tribal casinos that are subject to regulation.