Former Smithville police chief arrested, indicted on engaging in organized criminal activity charges
Former Smithville Police Chief Michael Maugere and two others were arrested on Oct. 14 after being indicted on charges of engaging in organized criminal activity stemming from illegal gambling, according to court records and the Bastrop County sheriff’s office.
Investigators with the Bastrop and Fayette counties sheriffs’ offices executed search warrants at locations near Smithville and La Grange and arrested Maugere, 54, and Chasity Robinson, 36, both of Smithville, as well as Michael Edward Burgess, 35, of La Grange, after all three were indicted on Oct. 12 on the state jail felony charges, according to court records.
“The search warrants stemmed from a three-month-long investigation into illegal gambling,” the Bastrop County sheriff’s office said. “Undercover agents gambled at the Smithville location on numerous occasions and received cash payouts. Undercover agents also gambled at the La Grange location and received cash payouts.”
Sheriff’s office investigators identified multiple people involved in the organization and presented their case to a grand jury, which returned sealed indictments for the individuals arrested, according to the Bastrop County sheriff’s office.
Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/10/26/smithville-police-chief-michael-maugere-arrested-organized-criminal-activity/8556858002/