Massive Houston operation charges 16 for $22 million game room scheme, 45 arrests total
The bust of a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling and money laundering conspiracy led to a flurry of arrests in the Houston area Wednesday.
It was one of the largest law enforcement operations in the Southern District of Texas, U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei says. The conspiracy had generated more than $22 million.
A total of 16 people have been charged for the conspiracy, 14 of which have been arrested. An additional 31 were arrested and received immigration and firearm charges during the operation, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office. One undocumented immigrant reportedly assaulted a law enforcement officer.
"The indictment, returned March 26 and unsealed upon the arrests, alleges Nizar Ali, 61, Richmond, and others allegedly conspired to own, operate or assist in the operation of illegal game rooms," the release says. "All also conspired to conduct financial transactions to conceal and disguise the nature and source of the proceeds of the illegal gambling business, which totaled more than $22 million, according to the charges."
The police raids were a result of "Operation Double Down" and involved over 700 law enforcement officers across 18 agencies, serving 45 search warrants and 40 seizure warrants in the Houston area. Included in the targeted raids were 30 illegal game rooms, such as El Portal and Yellow Building.
The U.S. Attorney's Office reports officers involved in Operation Double Down recovered the following:
Over $4.5 million in cash
$5 million in property and vehicles
2,000 slot machines
100 Rolex watches
8 firearms
Approximately $6.5 million from bank accounts and other financial institutions
Of the 16 individuals charged with conspiracy, 14 were taken into custody Wednesday, according to the press release:
Nizar Ali, 61, Richmond
Naeem Ali, 33, Richmond
Amer Khan, 68, Richmond
Ishan Dhuka, 33, Rosenberg
Sahil Karovalia, 32, Rosenberg
Sarfarez Maredia, 38, Sugar Land
Shoaib Maredia, 40, Sugar Land
Yolanda Figueroa, 40, Pasadena
Viviana Alvarado, 45, LaPorte
Anabel Eloisa Guevarra, 46, Houston
Precela Solis, 27, Houston
Maria Delarosa, 53, Houston
Claudia Calderon, 37, Houston
Lucia Hernandez, 34, Houston
Two other individuals — Sayed Ali, 59, Richmond, and Stephanie Huerta, 35, Houston — were identified as fugitives with outstanding arrest warrants.
The identities of the other 31 individuals arrested during the operation have not been made public.
All those taken into custody have been charged with "conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business and interstate travel in aid of racketeering," the U.S. Attorney's Office reports, each carrying up to five years in prison. They are also indicted on conspiracy to commit money laundering, punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Nizar Ali faces additional charges. He is indicted on "32 counts of federal program bribery for allegedly paying more than $500,000 to an undercover officer in an attempt to protect the illicit game rooms from law enforcement intervention." He may serve up to ten additional years in prison for each charge.
The money laundering charge has a maximum fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved. The other charges have a maximum fine of $250,000.
The following agencies contributed to Wednesday's raids:
Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI)
IRS Criminal Investigation (CI)
Houston Police Department (HPD)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program
Harris County Constable's Office – Precinct One
Harris County District Attorney's Office
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations
Customs and Border Protection
sheriff's offices in Harris and Montgomery Counties
Houston Fire Department
Texas Attorney General's Office
Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)
police departments in Baytown and Pasadena
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas police raid dozens of Houston game rooms involved in $22M scheme
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