The San Jose Police Department has reported that in the last year the city has experienced an increase in criminal activity surrounding businesses that house illegal gaming operations. By way of response police officers, in conjunction with the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Gambling Control, San Jose Code Enforcement and the San Jose Fire Department, completed the initial phases of an on-going investigation targeting various front businesses facilitating illegal gambling operations.
Five business owners and employees were arrested for possession of illegal gambling machines and other gambling-related offenses. Five search warrants were executed at businesses and a total of 51 illegal gambling machines were seized, along with approximately $75,000 in cash. Several more individual’s cases are awaiting review by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office for additional charges.
Officers from the Department of Justice served two additional search warrants. One was served in the 900 block of Story Road, and the other in the 2000 block of Million Court, as well as a penal code inspection conducted in the 2000 block of Monterey Road. The Department of Justice, Bureau of Gambling Control located and seized 13 illegal gambling devices, and $280,566.00 in US currency (believed to be proceeds from illegal gambling). The cases remain under active investigation and more businesses facilitating illegal gambling and/or in possession of illegal gambling machines are expected to be targeted in the future.
San Jose Police Lieutenant Paul Messier, of the San Jose Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit said: “We know we have more work to do in shutting down criminal enterprises that are impacting our community.”
