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The mayor of Hitchcock, Texas was arrested Wednesday as part of sweeping raids on 20 illegal gambling establishments executed by the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office.
An official with the sheriff’s office confirmed six arrests were initially made in addition to Chris Armacost, who also serves as Hitchcock's Assistant Superintendent in addition to his role as mayor. Charges included engaging in organized criminal activity.
“In addition to the gambling establishments, the City of Hitchcock was also included due to its regulatory responsibilities involving permitting, employee records, and inspections related to these businesses‚” the sheriff’s office said.
The City of Hitchcock, which has a population approaching 8000, released a statement:
“The City of Hitchcock is aware of the law enforcement activity that occurred on February 18, 2026, involving the execution of search warrants at several locations within the city, including City Hall.
The City of Hitchcock is fully cooperating with the Galveston County Sheriff’s Office and the Galveston County Organized Crime Task Force as they conduct their investigation into illegal gambling operations. Our administration is committed to complete transparency and is providing investigators with all requested access to permitting records, inspection reports, and personnel files to ensure a thorough and swift resolution.
“The City takes these allegations very seriously,” said Marie Gelles, City Manager. “We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and public trust. We will continue to assist law enforcement in every way possible while ensuring that essential city services remain uninterrupted for our residents.”
750 gaming machines and $420,000 were seized during the exhaustive raids.
Appearing at a Friday morning press conference, Sheriff Jimmy Fullen confirmed that another 26 individuals had been arrested over the course of this week.
The operation, carried out by the county’s Organized Crime Task Force, also netted eight firearms.
Fullen had met with Armacost in October to address numerous complaints from residents and local business owners about alleged illegal gambling operations. Those complaints did not stop and a task force was launched to conduct an investigation.
Video: Galveston County officials: Illegal gambling sites fueled crime in Hitchcock https://t.co/XwfzwzQw1q
— gambling911 (@gambling911) February 20, 2026
“These are not just mom-and-pop businesses,” Fullen said. “They are criminal enterprises.”
On Friday, through an attorney, Armacost sent ABC13 a statement:
"Some of the most important rights granted to Americans by the Constitution are the presumption of innocence, and the right to confront your accusers in court to test the strength of those accusations. I have been charged by the State with offenses as a private citizen and business owner. Neither my work as Mayor for the City of Hitchcock nor my work as an administrator for Hitchcock Independent School District has been implicated in these charges. It is with that in mind that I intend to defend myself as a private citizen, and decline to fight this case in the media. This case will be resolved in court, as is right and proper."
Texas law prohibits gambling but allows certain gaming machines to operate under an exception often referred to as the “fuzzy animal” provision.
- Nagesh Rath, Gambling911.com
