FOUR DEFENDANTS CONVICTED OF ILLEGAL POSSESSION AND OPERATION OF GAMBLING DEVICES IN GARDEN GROVE CAFÉS

FOUR DEFENDANTS CONVICTED OF ILLEGAL POSSESSION AND OPERATION OF GAMBLING DEVICES IN GARDEN GROVEcafés

*There are 15 co-defendants also charged in this case due to a 3-month joint investigation led by Garden Grove Police Department

WESTMINSTER – As a result of a multi-agency law enforcement investigation targeting illegal gambling in Garden Grove cafés, four defendants were convicted today for possessing and operating illegal gaming machines. Kim Ann Thi Lam, 53, Garden Grove, Tony Trong Do, 58, Yorba Linda, and Ngoc Ai Lu, 37 Garden Grove, each pleaded guilty to the court to one misdemeanor count of possession of an unlawful gaming device, one misdemeanor count of possession or control of a slot machine, and one misdemeanor count of operation and maintenance of a slot machine. Nina Trinh Dang, 42, Westminster, pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of possession or control of a slot machine. The four defendants were sentenced to 18 months of formal probation and ordered to forfeit and destroy the seized gaming machines and any of the money inside or that was associated with the machines.

Warrants were issued for co-defendants Holly Nguyen and Vickie Nguyen, who are charged with one misdemeanor count each of possession of an unlawful gaming device and possession or control of a slot machine.

The other 13 co-defendants are charged with one misdemeanor count each of possession of an unlawful gaming device, possession or control of a slot machine, and operation and maintenance of a slot machine and face a continued arraignment June 2, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, The defendants face a maximum sentence of six months in jail and $1,000 fine if convicted.

The Garden Grove Police Department led the 3-month investigation with assistance from the California Department of Justice Bureau of Gaming Control, Federal Bureau of Investigation, California Franchise Tax Board, and police departments from the Cities of Buena Park, El Monte, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Orange, Santa Ana, Tustin and Westminster. The Orange and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Offices, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Orange and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Departments, and Orange County Probation Department helped serve and cite the defendants.