New Details of Illegal Gambling Bust, Arrest of Hitchcock Mayor Emerge

Galveston County Sheriff Jimmy Fullen shared details surrounding Hitchcock Mayor Christopher Armacost’s arrest for his alleged involvement in an illegal gambling operation. In addition to Armacost, authorities arrested 32 others and seized 749 gaming machines, over $417,000 in cash and eight firearms in the targeted sting. 

At a Feb. 20 news conference, Fullen said he and Chief Deputy Melencio Villereal approached Armacost last year about Hitchcock’s alleged illegal gambling. Fullen added that the meeting stemmed from residents’ complaints in the town, roughly 40 miles southeast of Houston.

Said Fullen:

“We told him the city needed to try to clean up their own problem, but then the complaints kept coming… So, we finally went ahead and initiated an investigation.”

Hitchcock Mayor Faces ‘Organized Crime’ Charge

On Feb. 18, Galveston County’s  Organized Crime Task Force executed search warrants at 20 locations suspected of offering unlawful gambling, and at Hitchcock City Hall.

According to a Galveston County Sheriff’s Office social media post, the Task Force targeted City Hall due to its oversight responsibilities.

“In addition to the gambling establishments, the City of Hitchcock was also included due to its regulatory responsibilities involving permitting, employee records and inspections related to these businesses,” the sheriff’s office said. 

Fullen alleged that Hitchcock earns roughly $800,000-$900,000 annually from the targeted game rooms, monies which are allegedly included in its annual budget.

Altogether, law enforcement arrested 33 people in connection with the investigation, including Armacost, whom the authorities charged with engaging in organized crime, a felony. 

Per Fox26, in addition to his role as mayor, Armacost is the assistant superintendent of Hitchcock’s Independent School District. Additionally, he owns a laundromat, Comfort Zone Washateria. During the enforcement operation, investigators located and removed five gaming machines from the business.

Fullen said Armacost did not acknowledge any gaming operations at his business during their October 2025 meeting. 

“In fact, what the mayor told me during that meeting was that they were doing every effort they can to reduce the number of [game room] permits they were going to issue within the city of Hitchcock, down to, I believe the number was eight. As you can see, we hit 20 establishments, so clearly that wasn’t the case.” 

These locations, Fullen added, invited unwanted elements into the community.

“It’s not just your mom and pop gaming places. It brings a criminal element,” he said. “You got prostitution, illegal narcotics trafficking … you saw we had the weapons that we recovered from some of these places.” 

Armacost To Fight Charges in Court

Armacost’s attorney, Nicholas Poehl, shared a statement from his client with the media. The 44-year-old Armacost said he intends to defend against the accusations in court.

I have been charged by the state with offenses as a private citizen and business owner. Neither my work as mayor for the City of Hitchcock, nor my work as an administrator for Hitchcock Independent School District have been implicated in these charges. It is with that in mind that I intend to defend myself as a private citizen, and decline to fight this case in the media. This case will be resolved in court, as is right and proper.” 

Meanwhile, on its Facebook page, the City of Hitchcock said officials were cooperating with law enforcement. Specifically, the city is “providing investigators with all requested access to permitting records, inspection reports, and personnel files.”

Further, city manager Marie Gelles said in a statement that ‘the city takes these allegations very seriously. …

“We are dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and public trust. We will continue to assist law enforcement in every way possible while ensuring that essential city services remain uninterrupted for our residents.”

A spokesperson for Hitchcock ISD stated that Armacost remained an employee while the district reviewed “all applicable information.”

More Arrests Could Follow

According to a statement by Galveston County District Attorney Kenneth Cusick, the investigation continues, and more arrests may follow:

“The evidence that is produced out of this investigation will lead us to any other elements that are involved in this organization that weren’t arrested the other day and that would include city officials, any other officials that would be involved in any other person’s operating, financing or operating these game rooms.”