A Gwinnett County fundraising organization known for casino nights and poker tournaments is facing increased scrutiny after its director was arrested and charged with running an illegal gambling den.

A review of publicly available tax records shows the Buford-based Little Kings and Queens organization brought in nearly $1.7 million in contributions in 2019, the most recent tax year available, but provided no specifics about how the profits were distributed.

The director of Little Kings and Queens, 51-year-old Dennis Maxwell, was arrested Friday on a felony count of commercial gambling and a misdemeanor count of keeping a gambling place, Gwinnett police said. An investigation led police to accuse Maxwell of running an illegal gambling operation under the guise of a charitable organization. Upon Maxwell’s arrest, officers seized $30,000 in illegal funds and shut down the organization, police said.