Demetre Theodossis, the owner of Hot Dog King, reached a plea-bargain deal with federal prosecutors on Jan. 30, agreeing to cooperate in the ongoing investigation of corruption related to video-poker machines, to testify at the trials of co-defendants and to pay the IRS more than $330,000. The full terms can be read here.
Theodossis’ case is related to the arrest of former Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Medford and three of his deputies on corruption charges. He is alleged to have paid them bribes to continue his operation. But Medford and his deputies are not specified in the plea deal. In return for Theodossis’ cooperation, the “United States agrees not to seek any additional charges related to the defendant’s operation of an illegal gambling business … or related to the defendant’s payments of money to any persons affiliated with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office related to his operation of such a gambling business,” according to the plea.
— David Forbes, staff writer
