Photo supplied, Utah Attorney General's Office

OGDEN — State prosecutors were expected to file more than 20 felony charges Wednesday against the owner of a Roy gas station and convenience store where investigators broke up an alleged illegal gambling operation earlier this week.

After undercover agents observed the operation for months, the Crimes Against the Statewide Economy task force served a search warrant Monday at Texaco, 4395 S. 1900 West, in Roy. The Utah Attorney General’s Office said in a news release that CASE agents worked with Roy police officers on the investigation.

Agents seized 20 video game-style machines that the Attorney General’s Office said were used for betting. Several large bags of cash also were confiscated. In a probable cause statement filed in 2nd District Court, agents alleged that players were awarded cash payouts from gas station staff members and that the gambling money was mixed in with the business’s legitimate proceeds.

Neel Patel, 31, was booked into the Weber County Jail on suspicion of 20 counts of illegal gaming devices, a third-degree felony, and single counts of second-degree felony money laundering and a pattern of unlawful activity. Patel remained jailed Wednesday, held without bail.

Attorney general’s spokesperson Richard Piatt said formal charges were to be filed in 2nd District Court later Wednesday.

Photo supplied, Utah Attorney General's Office

Charging documents said Patel had owned and operated the station since 2018.