BY TOM SOMACH

A dozen people, including two former sherriff’s deputies, have been arrested in the U.S. by the FBI on charges of running illegal video poker operations, the Associated Press reported.

The 12 suspects were picked up in North Carolina and Florida, and accused of running the gambling operations in western North Carolina, the A.P. reported.

Among the 12 who were apprehended were former Buncombe County (N.C.) sheriff’s deputies Kenneth Penland and Ronnie Eugene Davis, both of Asheville, N.C., USA, the A.P. reported.

On July 1, video poker became illegal in North Carolina.

Previously, operators had been allowed up to three machines that paid winners up to $10 in store merchandise.

Penland, 75, was charged with conspiracy to run an illegal gambling operation and obstruction of justice by a local law enforcement official, and Davis, 60, was charged with conspiracy to run an illegal gambling operation, the A.P. reported.

According to court documents, store owners in North Carolina who had video poker machines had illegal arrangements with local law enforcement, under which the merchants were able to make cash payouts to video poker winners, the A.P. reported.

The documents also show that Davis, though not a deputy any more, acted as a go-between for at least one merchant who wanted to install video poker machines at his business and a representative of Henderson Amusement, a North Carolina firm which supplied the machines, the A.P. reported.

In addition, the documents said Davis drove the Henderson rep to a meeting with the merchant in an official sherriff’s vehicle, the A.P. reported.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)