Santa Ana Illegal Gambling Joints Raided, Multiple Arrests in California

California authorities feature upset up several illegal play dens in Santa Ana as division of a far-reaching investigation. Suspects at present human face charges inwards connective with the recent raids.

A come of nine suspects were either apprehended or are allay being sought-after(a) on gaming charges or related to crimes, such as extortion and drug trafficking, feds revealed this week.

The gaming joints generated thousands of dollars inwards profits from each one day, federal authorities claim. Numerous gaming devices were seized on Wednesday. Feds identified the Golden State suspects who were apprehended.

They include Niem Ngoc Ha, also known as “Dung Body,” 46, of Fountain Valley. He allegedly opened and operated foursome illegal casinos. Mindy Bui, also known as “Thuy,” 36, of Westminster, allegedly managed the illegal venues. Honganh Thi Pham, also known as “Hong,” 40, of Garden Grove, also managed the casinos.

The iii suspects and 4 others appeared inward CA federal lawcourt this week.

Authorities are stock-still seeking two other suspects. One is Sammy Cardona, also known as “Peanut,” 36, of Santa Ana. He allegedly used “violence to protect defendant Ha’s illicit casinos,” according to a federal indictment.

The illicit gaming operations were either “nets” — venues inward a commercial message district — or “slaphouses” — those inward residential neighborhoods inward Orange River County, prosecutors explained.

Ha was also supercharged with bribery. He allegedly paid $128,000 to the now-convicted, former Santa Ana Police Officer Steven Lopez.

Lopez allegedly tipped away Ha inwards Sep 2020 that Santa Ana police force officers were preparation to closed land ane of his casinos. Lopez, who pleaded shamefaced in 2020 to accepting the bribe, is scheduled to live sentenced on Oct. 17.

The play investigation mired local, state, and federal authorities. The Orange County Asian Organized Crime Task Force played a Florida key role.

The investigation led to triplet indictments. Among the charges in the indictments are dose trafficking, attempted extortion, and robbery of a small business. Money laundering is also suspected.

Illegal play is a particular headache since the COVID-19 pandemic bust out in 2020, prosecutors said.

The identification number of illegal gaming dens has exploded during the pandemic, dramatically impacting the caliber of life-time in many Orange River County neighborhoods,” US Attorney for Central California Spencer Tracy L. Wilkison said inward a statement.

Extortion Allegations

One of the indictments alleged ii men extorted small businesses that were operating as nets. Vincent Randal Pimentel, 30, of Santa Ana, and Steven Gallegos Saenz, 39, of Whittier, allegedly robbed the businesses that refused to compensate so-called “taxes,” federal authorities said.

Saenz would evidence the proprietors he was with the “mafia,” authorities said. He and then demanded payments.

In ane instance on April 19, 2019, Saenz went to a Santa Ana video renting shop. The proprietor refused to pay the money.

Later that day, Saenz, Pimentel, and other suspects returned to the store. During an armed robbery, they stole triad digital play machines, deuce computers, and about $3,500 in cash, prosecutors said.

Pimentel and Saenz are indicted for cabal to interfere with commerce by robbery and extortion, and interference with commerce by robbery.

The defendants flouted the practice of law and used enforcers with challenger gangs to receive victims to abide by through the employ of intimidation and violence in tell to further their illicit network and bring forth profits,” Kristi Johnson, supporter theater director of the FBI’s Los Angeles office, said inward the statement.

Santa Ana is set some 32 miles to the south of Los Angeles.

Meth, Heroin Charges

Also, inward connectedness with a gaming site inwards Anaheim, in that location were narcotics charges tied to chalk (meth) trafficking.

Marcus Jason Loomis, also known as “Negro,” 37, of Barstow, allegedly transported nearly two pounds of suspected meth from an illegal gaming business organization inward Anaheim. That metropolis is situated northerly of Santa Ana.

Ricardo Alonzo Nunez, also known as “Rascal,” 44, of Anaheim, allegedly in agreement(p) to sell the meth. Nunez and Loomis are charged with confederacy to administer and possess with intent to dole out meth.

Also, genus Vanessa Calophyllum longifolium Galloway, 37, of Barstow, was present tense when the meth was seized, feds said. She was supercharged with ownership with the spirit to give out heroin.