A raid of three Triangle properties Friday uncovered a complex gambling enterprise involving sports betting and high-stakes poker – complete with barricaded doors, armed security and elaborate surveillance equipment, authorities said.

The raid ended with 10 people receiving misdemeanor gambling charges and another under investigation. Authorities seized $187,000, marijuana, drug paraphernalia and an AR-15 assault rifle.

The 11th person is suspected of more serious crimes, said Bryan House, an agent with the N.C. Division of Alcohol Law Enforcement. But he has not been charged.

Complaints from neighbors of the properties prompted the raid.

ALE agents executed search warrants between 8 and 9 p.m. at 6909 Breckenridge Ave. and 4029 Strickland Farm Road in Raleigh as well as 6424 Robertson Pond Road in Wendell.

Harold William Elliot, 72, the owner of the property at 6909 Breckenridge Ave., was charged while at his home.

Nine others were cited while at a cabin in Wendell.

Some of the men say they will contest the charges.

“I wasn’t playing anything, I was just sitting at the table,” said Eddie Lee Elks Jr., 56, of Roanoke Rapids, who was reached by phone Monday.

Elks said he and a few friends were talking amiably when ALE agents tried to break down the door “like a SWAT team.”

He said they were given tickets simply because they were at a card game.

“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said. “... I’ll probably plead not guilty.”

Michael Lee Brown, 47, of Tarboro said he would likely wait to clear his name of gambling charges before resuming one of his favorite hobbies.

“I was supposed to go play again today. ... But I decided to lay low until I get this charge taken care of,” said Brown, who noted that he had been playing poker since he was 12, adding that he had been given similar citations before. “Maybe I was just born in the wrong state.”

Others cited in the raid were: Donald Ray Daniels, 61, of Enfield; Ryan Michael Lewis, 32, of Raleigh; Sonny Pierce, 29, of Knightdale; Priestly Early Pierce, 75, of Knightdale; Sonja Kay Stone, 50, of Raleigh; Justin Carl Turner, 23, of Raleigh; and Leonard Wiggins, 73, of Rocky Mount.

Those who were cited are due in court Sept. 14.