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Blotter: Authorities bust Texas illegal gambling ring
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Officials with the US Department of Justice have charged six people in Jefferson County, Texas, with owning and operating an illegal gambling operation. The charges named in the indictment include one count of conspiracy to operate an illegal gambling business, three counts of money laundering and four counts of operating an illegal gambling business. The defendants could face up to twenty years in a US federal prison if they’re convicted.
The investigation involved internet cafes in the towns of Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Nederland in southeast Texas. These cafes, according to the US Attorney’s Office, also held computerized gaming devices, such as slot machines and video poker games. The gambling operations, allegedly run out of the Nederland Internet Café in Nederland and Dolphin Internet in Port Arthur, brought in over US$4 million, which federal officials want to seize as evidence.
Justice Department investigators, along with local law enforcement officers, began looking into the businesses in April 2007. After a lengthy process, federal prosecutors brought indictments against Amirali Sumar and Mukahtiar Khuwaya of Nederland, Virginia Slaughter of Port Arthur, Phillip Clark of Big Springs, Texas, Delores Ridens of Henderson, Texas, and Daniel Davis of Florida.
According to the indictment, Mr. Davis and Mr. Clark ran Dolphin Internet. Mr. Davis also allegedly worked with Mr. Sumar at Nederland Internet Café. Both Dolphin Internet and Nederland Internet Café were closed down after investigators served search warrants on both locations.
While no one is condoning the illegal activities, many people who are attempting to get forms of legal gambling in place in Texas are unhappy with the zeal exhibited by federal and local law enforcement. Jefferson County, Texas borders the state of Louisiana, where casino gambling is legal. Thousands of Texans go to play in Louisiana casinos every year. In 2007, Texans spent over US$2 billion at out-of-state casinos.
14-Aug-2009, 14:17
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