One of West Virginia's biggest providers of video lottery machines will remain in business while both it and its owner face federal criminal charges.

But the state Lottery Commission expects to discuss the 48-count indictment of Joe C. Ferrell and his Southern Amusement Co. when it meets next week.

Charges unsealed Monday level an array of offenses against Ferrell, a former Democratic lawmaker from Logan County.

Most of them allege he ran an illegal gambling racket in West Virginia and Kentucky. They also accuse him of bribing a lottery investigator.

Southern Amusement is licensed to lease 675 video lottery machines, the maximum allowed. If Ferrell is convicted, prosecutors plan to seize all of them along with the business and other assets.