Sparta, Ga. — Two brothers from Sparta have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms following a years-long investigation into a sophisticated lottery fraud and racketeering scheme that spanned more than a dozen counties across Georgia.
Quinton Watts, 27, and Phillip Watts, 31, were convicted on multiple felony charges, including racketeering, lottery ticket fraud, theft by taking, and possession of tools for the commission of a crime. The sentences were handed down by Columbia County Superior Court Judge Barry A. Fleming.
Investigators said the brothers operated an illegal scheme involving Coin Operated Amusement Machines (COAMs), which are regulated by the Georgia Lottery. The video poker-style machines, commonly found in gas stations and convenience stores, allow players to redeem points for non-cash prizes such as merchandise, fuel credits, or Georgia Lottery tickets. Cash payouts are strictly prohibited under state law.
The Georgia Lottery Commission requested assistance from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) in August 2024 after detecting suspicious activity. A joint investigation led by Chief Assistant District Attorney Andy Pascual, with support from the GBI Commercial Gambling Unit and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, revealed that the Watts brothers manipulated game credits and illegally cashed out winnings between June 2021 and September 2024, stealing thousands of dollars.
Following the investigation, a Columbia County grand jury indicted both men. On Jan. 29, 2026, Judge Fleming sentenced each brother to 20 years in prison. Quinton Watts received an additional 45 years of probation, while Phillip Watts was sentenced to 35 years of probation.
The court also ordered the brothers to pay more than $86,000 in restitution to the Georgia Lottery Commission. As part of their punishment, they are banned from Columbia County, prohibited from entering businesses involved in the crimes, and barred from playing COAMs anywhere in Georgia.
The GBI’s Commercial Gambling Unit reiterated that COAMs may only offer non-cash redemptions and warned that illegal cash payouts will continue to be aggressively prosecuted.
Authorities said the case demonstrates Georgia’s commitment to protecting the integrity of the state’s gaming industry and enforcing COAM regulations statewide.
