24 Slot Machines Bulldozed In Socorro

It was case closed with a big “bang!” in the city of Socorro.

Using bulldozers and sledgehammers, city crews demolished 24 slot machines Tuesday seized during an alleged illegal gambling bust in March of 2010.

Socorro Interim City Manager Manny Soto told ABC-7 the case was later dismissed by the El Paso district attorney’s office.

Soto said he was informed that under Texas state law, the city of Socorro was prohibited from re-selling the equipment.

“It’s illegal (to sell them), basically,” Soto said. “We’re required, by law, to crush them and destroy them.”

The Socorro police department said each machine was worth around $2,000.

Police lieutenant Edmundo Montoya told ABC-7 that though there were no convictions in the case, Tuesday’s demolition still sends a message.

“We want to show the city of Socorro, the citizens of Socorro and anybody else that we won’t tolerate any kind of illegal activity in our city,” he said.