A high school social studies teacher in Vermilion, Ohio, faces allegations of operating an unlawful gambling scheme that included a system of unlicensed gaming devices, illicit bingo games, and laundering money. 

Kristina Edmison, 47 years old, works as a teacher at Vermilion High School. On March 21, a grand jury in Cuyahoga County indicted her on 23 criminal charges, which encompass felony counts of gambling, money laundering, and corruption, according to Vermilion Daily. 

According to the indictment, Edmison and his co-defendants, Lee Edmison Jr. and Lee Edmison III, utilized shell companies and fake nonprofit ties to function covertly. Among the nonprofits that the trio inaccurately asserted connections to were the Ohio Junior Hockey Association and the Medina Youth Baseball Association. 

This was intended to give the appearance of providing genuine charitable gaming while hiding the earnings from unlawful gambling. Live bingo games in Ohio are allowed solely if they are conducted by charitable or educational organizations and religious groups that possess a permit from the attorney general’s office. 

‘Dishonest Conduct’ 

The indictment states that the gang operated a ring of unlawful electronic bingo machines located in no fewer than 13 bars throughout Northeast Ohio, utilizing three business names: Modern Music & Games, K Zip Services and Repairs, and LJ Modern Properties LLC. 

“The defendants and their agents were solely responsible for providing, maintaining and servicing those electronic gambling machines,” the indictment reads.

All three face accusations of participating in a pattern of corrupt behavior, a first-degree felony, along with Ohio’s equivalent of a RICO charge designed to fight organized crime groups. 

Vermilion Local Schools superintendent Dr. David Hile informed Edmison on April 15 that she would be temporarily relieved of her responsibilities with full pay while the investigation proceeds, as reported by Fox 8 News. 

He informed her that the accusations, if accurate, indicated that “you did not uphold the dignity of your profession and did not act in an ethical and lawful way,” stressing her presumption of innocence. 

Money, Cars Confiscated 

Officials aim to confiscate $33,000 in cash from seven bank accounts, along with cars and property, supposedly linked to the betting operation. 

If found guilty of the most severe charge, corrupt activity, Edmison might endure a prison sentence of as much as 11 years. She has entered a plea of not guilty.