US charges 4 with USD 4 million gambling and money laundering
On April 23, 2009, US authorities announced that a federal grand jury has indicted 4 persons on money laundering and illegal gambling charges that stem from alleged 8-liner operations totaling USD 3.9 million.
The charges come from accusations that these 4 people operated 6 illegal game rooms in Galveston and Harris counties: Lucky 777 on Interstate 45, Bay Area on Friendswood Link, Amusement Palace on FM 2004, the Coffee Shop on Scarsdale, the O.C. on Long Point, and the Hideaway on 12th Street in Bacliff. These rooms were open for gaming only to private members. Some rooms operated 24 hours a day. According to the statement, some businesses contained 50 8-liners, or electric game machines, that purportedly have paid cash in violation of state law. The gaming machines resemble slot machines.
The four are accused of conspiring to operate the game rooms and trying to conceal the operations between November 2005 and November 2008.
Thanh V. “Tommy” Bui, 33; Russell Wayne Archord Jr., 40; James Arthur Burke Jr., 30; and Gustavo Alfonzo Alvarez, 41, are accused of attempting to conceal business assets as well as assets purchased with proceeds from illegal business in the 3rd parties names. They are also accused of destroying business records each day, avoiding financial transaction reporting requirements required by federal law.
A money-laundering conviction may bring the 4 criminals up to 20 years in prison and a fine of USD 250 000.