A local shot house operator is closing his doors involuntarily, courtesy of the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgiana Police Department.

Georgiana resident Hugh Payton, 61, was charged with a laundry list of offenses¬– including two counts of sale of alcohol without a license, possession of alcohol with intent to sell, first-degree possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm– after a weeks-long investigation led authorities to his Georgiana location Wednesday afternoon.

“The Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgiana Police Department received information that he was running a shot house there, along with selling drugs,” said Butler County sheriff Kenny Harden.

“The taskforce has been working on it for several weeks.  They were able to obtain a search warrant Wednesday.  It’s another good sign of the departments working together to make Butler County safer.”

Six cases of Budweiser, five cases of Bud Light, a case of gin, six ounces of marijuana, two pistols and approximately $1,000 in US currency were recovered from the premises.

“All of this will go to court, and the task force will try to seize the money,” Harden said.

“If it is seized, it will be used for the further investigation of drug crimes.”

Georgiana police chief Carlton Cook said that the investigation and impending arrest is further evidence of the growing spirit of cooperation among the county’s authorities.

“I just want to thank the Butler County Sheriff’s Office for collaborating with us to keep our community clean,” Cook said.