MADISON (AP) — The commander of a Maine Veterans of Foreign Wars post has been charged with making illegal payouts to patrons who played a video poker game at the post and trying to hide evidence from police.

State police say 71-year-old Louis Padula, of Anson, was charged with unlawful gambling, tampering with a witness and falsifying evidence.

Sgt. Michael Johnston says an investigation into the Harvell-Bishop VFW Post 7865 in Madison was prompted by a tip. Johnston says total payouts are in the thousands of dollars over a period of years, and at one point Padula tried to coach a witness on how to answer police questions.

Johnston says under state law, video poker games are for entertainment only.

When reached by the Morning Sentinel (http://bit.ly/1BZb04I ), Padula said he couldn’t discuss the allegations.