At least two county sheriffs in western North Carolina accepted cash bribes to protect to an illegal gambling business, an accused ringleader told an undercover investigator, according to court papers filed Wednesday.

James Otis Henderson, 42, is one of several defendants charged by federal prosecutors with operating an illegal gambling business and bribery of a law enforcement official, among other charges.

Rutherford County Sheriff Jack Conner was working with federal authorities in December 2006 when he agreed to take $10,000 from Henderson, according to the court papers. Henderson had asked Conner to provide protection for houses where he located his video poker machines, and agreed to pay Conner an additional $1,000 per month.

Henderson told Conner during a videotaped conversation that other sheriffs in nearby counties were also taking bribes, according to a judge's order to detain Henderson pending trial. He said one sheriff wanted $100 per machine per month for protection, while another sought monthly installments.

North Carolina began to phase out video poker machines last year, and they became illegal July 1. When the machines were legal, operators could place a maximum of three machines at a single location, and the most a player could win was $10 in merchandise.

__________________
"Coffee is for closers." -- Glengarry GlenRoss