Accused gambler cooperating with federal law agents in Lexington Co. case

Larry Flynn, facing federal charges of operating an illegal gambling business, has returned from Nicaragua and is cooperating with federal law enforcement agents investigating public corruption in Lexington County, his attorney told a federal magistrate judge Monday.

While attorney Bert von Herrmann never mentioned suspended Lexington County Sheriff James Metts by name, he said Flynn has been caught up in the ongoing public corruption probe that has been the subject of numerous newspaper headlines the past several weeks.

An ongoing joint state and federal probe into illegal gambling in Lexington County led to the June 17 indictment of Metts and three others, mostly for alleged misconduct involving the custody of illegal immigrants. In mid-June, after he was indicted, Metts was suspended from the post he held for 42 years.

Flynn, 39, spent six hours recently talking with federal law enforcement, said von Herrmann of Conway, who represents Flynn. Von Herrmann made his statements to Magistrate Judge Shiva Hodges in a Monday afternoon bond hearing.

At the hearing, assistant U.S. Attorney Jim May had asked Hodges to set a $25,000 secured bond because Flynn had been in Nicaragua and his wife and two small children were still there.

If someone is considered a flight risk, a judge can set a higher bond.

But von Herrmann not only stressed Flynn’s cooperation to the judge but also told her he had deep roots in the Columbia area and a background in law enforcement and in the military. Besides, von Herrmann said, Flynn had surrendered his passport and could not leave the country.

Hodges finally allowed Flynn to post a $2,500 cash bond that he will get back if he meets all his obligations, which include showing up at scheduled court appearances.

In June a federal grand jury indicted Flynn on charges of operating an illegal gambling business and money-laundering. The federal charges came after years of controversy over whether Flynn’s gaming machines, which can be found at various convenience stores and other locations in the Midlands, are in fact illegal gambling devices.

One of the three men charged with Metts, former Lexington town council member Danny Frazier, was advising the Internet gaming industry on various ways to set up shop in the Midlands.

Frazier and former South Congaree Police Chief Jason Amodio are accused of misconduct related to video poker. Specifically, Amodio is charged with taking payments from Frazier in exchange for the return of gaming machines seized by town officers.

From Monday’s statements in court, it was not clear exactly what Flynn told federal law agents recently.

How well Metts policed gambling machines in his county has been a matter of public dispute.

In Monday’s hearing, Flynn pleaded not guilty.

Von Herrmann said later it is important to remember that his client is presumed innocent and that he is cooperating fully with authorities.

“(Flynn) is not the target,” von Herrmann said. “It is much bigger than he is.”

Flynn went to Nicaragua to start a business, his lawyer said.

This story was originally published June 30, 2014 at 9:16 PM.