More than a dozen Texas residents accused of operating $22 million illegal gambling scheme
More than $16 million in cash, guns and property – including 100 Rolex watches – were seized by federal authorities during the operation to shut down an alleged illegal gambling scheme.
More than a dozen Houston-area residents have been accused of operating an illegal gambling business, including game rooms, that made more than $22 million in proceeds, federal authorities said.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Texas, Nizar Ali, 61, of Richmond, Texas, and his alleged accomplices "conspired to own, operate or assist in the operation of illegal game rooms." The group also allegedly conspired to conceal and disguise the money made from the illegal gambling scheme by conducting fraudulent financial transactions, the Justice Department said.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei on Thursday called the bust "one of the largest ever law enforcement operations in the Southern District of Texas."
In addition to Ali, the other Texas residents charged include Naeem Ali, 33, and Amer Khan, 68, both of Richmond; Ishan Dhuka, 33, and Sahil Karovalia, 32, both of Rosenberg; Sarfarez Maredia, 38, and Shoaib Maredia, 40, both of Sugar Land; Yolanda Figueroa, 40, of Pasadena; Viviana Alvarado, 45, of LaPorte; and Anabel Eloisa Guevarra, 46, Precela Solis, 27, Maria Delarosa, 53, Claudia Calderon, 37, and Lucia Hernandez, 34, all of Houston.
Two additional persons charged – Sayed Ali, 59, of Richmond, and Stephanie Huerta, 35, of Houston – are considered fugitives, and warrants remain outstanding for their arrests, the U.S. attorney's office said. Authorities also arrested 31 individuals living in the country illegally on various immigration and gun charges during the operation on April 2, according to the Justice Department.
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Federal authorities seized more than $16 million in cash, property and guns
To bring down the alleged operation, more than 700 law enforcement officers from 18 agencies served 45 search and 40 seizure warrants at locations throughout Houston and the surrounding area, according to the Justice Department. Of the searched locations, 30 were illegal game rooms with names like El Portal and Yellow Building, the U.S. attorney's office added.
During "Operation Double Down," authorities recovered more than $4.5 million in cash, $5 million in property and vehicles, 2,000 slot machines, 100 Rolex watches and eight firearms, the Justice Department said. Additionally, law enforcement seized about $6.5 million from bank accounts and other financial institutions.
Those named in the indictment have been charged with conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business, interstate travel in aid of racketeering and conspiracy to commit money laundering, according to the U.S. attorney's office. If convicted, each faces up to five years for the first three initial charges, while the money laundering conspiracy charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years, the Justice Department said.
Nizar Ali is also charged with 32 counts of federal program bribery for allegedly paying more than $500,000 to an undercover officer to try and protect the illegal game rooms from being busted by law enforcement, according to the U.S. attorney's office. If convicted on these charges, he faces up to 10 years for each count, the Justice Department added.