Father and Son Dodge Prison Time in Michigan Illegal Gambling Case
A father and son from Michigan avoided prison time and received probation for operating illegal gambling establishments in Genesee County.
Shaun M. Bellah Sr., 44, of Davison, and his son Shaun M. Bellah II, 24, of Highland, were sentenced by Michigan Circuit Court Judge Richard D. Ball. The elder Bellah received two years of probation and must pay $266 in combined fines and fees, while his son got one year of probation with $198 in total payments.
Henry Williams formal portrait
The pair operated two illegal storefront gambling locations: The State Road Spot in Davison and The Bristol Spot in Burton. During 2022 raids, authorities seized:
- 100 gambling devices
- $29,204 in cash
- 62 gift cards
Initially charged with multiple serious offenses including conducting a criminal enterprise, both men accepted plea deals. They pled guilty to maintaining a gambling house for gain, with the father also pleading guilty to conducting a gambling operation without a license.
Michigan Gaming Control Board (MGCB) Executive Director Henry Williams emphasized the state's commitment to maintaining gaming industry integrity. Attorney General Dana Nessel highlighted the successful partnership between her office and the MGCB in dismantling unlicensed gambling operations.
The sentences demonstrate Michigan's enforcement of gambling laws while offering opportunities for rehabilitation through probation rather than imprisonment.
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