Submitted
Some of the donated computers. Left to right: James Rivers, executive director AMIkids Beaufort; Billy Crumpton, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office; Jim Walton, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office; Mike Ingram, past chair, AMIkids Beaufort.

Remember how the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office raided a HEST Sweepstakes in Bluffton back in September 2011, seizing the machines?

Well, those computers aren't staying locked up and being of no use, five computers and monitors seized are going to help young men learn and study for the GED at AMIkids Beaufort.

Here are details about the donation from a release:

"This is a wonderful gift by our partner, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office," said former AMIkids Beaufort Chairman Mike Ingram. "Putting this technology in front of our young men is one more way that we can help get them back on the right path to a brighter future."

AMIKids is part of a national program that helps troubled youth through a variety of programs, including alternative education. The locally-managed program recently started a welding program for its students in partnership with TCL, enabling young men who had non-violent run-ins with the law to leave with a GED and welding certifications.

Crews delivered the equipment Friday and students will be using the new computers this week, said James Rivers, executive director at AMIkids Beaufort, formerly known as Beaufort Marine Institute.

The five desktop computers were seized in September during a raid at HEST Sweepstakes in Bluffton. After their hard drives were wiped clean and new operating systems were installed, the sheriff's office delivered the computers Friday to the AMIkids facility in Dale.