Jul.09, 2010, 3:54 PM CDT

Three people were convicted today of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling enterprise after investigators say they operated a multi-million dollar gambling operation out of internet cafes in Beaumont, Port Arthur and Nederland.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Phillip Dell Clark, 55, of Big Spring, Cecil D. Stephens, 73, of Burnet and Daniel Patrick Davis, 42 of Treasure Island, Florida, were convicted today after a 10-day in federal court in Beaumont.

Clark and Davis were also convicted of two counts of operating an illegal gambling enterprise and two counts of money laundering, according to the release. Stephens was also convicted of one count of operating an illegal gambling enterprise and one count of money laundering.

According to information presented in court, an investigation revealed that from April 2007 to September 2009, the defendants operated the illegal enterprise through computerized gambling machines using sweepstakes to attract patrons to internet cafes and e-business centers both locally and in Henderson.

Each defendant operated multiple internet cafes, including Dolphin Internet in Port Arthur and the Nederland Internet Cafe, the release states.

All of the internet cafes were shut down last year after search warrants were executed at each location.

The men each face up to five years in federal prison for each conspiracy count, up to five years for each operating count and up to 20 years for each money laundering count. Sentencing dates have not been set.