A double homicide at an illegal gambling den in San Jose in March has sparked a city-wide crackdown on the venues, known as “casitas.“ Police have made at least 14 arrests this week, including Gustavo Rodriguez, who has been booked into the Santa Clara County Jail for murder.
On March 12, officers arrived at a casita – Spanish for little house – on East Santa Clara Street. They found the dead bodies of Eddie Delgado, 56, and Oscar Salgado, 41, as well as gambling machines. All others had fled the scene.
An investigation identified Rodriguez as the prime suspect and led to raids on multiple casitas across the city.
“The motive and circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation,” said the San Jose Police Department in a press release.
Raids Lead to Further Arrests
The double murder is not an isolated incident. Police say there have been multiple shootings and homicides linked to illegal after-hours clubs, bars, and illicit gambling establishments operating throughout the city.
A raid on four venues last week resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals. Police also seized 45 illegal gaming machines, narcotics, and over $3,000 in cash believed to be proceeds of the unlawful activity.
“Illegal gambling fuels violence, puts residents at risk, and has no place in San José,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “Thanks to the hard work of our Special Operations and Vice units shutting these illegal operations down, we’re sending a clear message: we will not tolerate criminal enterprise of any kind in San José.”
Dens Continue Operating Despite Raids
California has taken a strong stance on businesses expanding gambling operations. Police raided the Santa Anita racetrack in January, seizing machines that authorities said were illegal.
Authorities seem unable to prevent gambling dens from quickly resuming operations, however. In a raid in December, police arrested four suspects at a casita in the 2700 block of Cramer Circle. They also seized several illegal gambling machines and narcotics.
Police discovered the operation had resumed and conducted another raid last week. The latest operation led to the arrest of Deon Nguyen, 26, and the seizure of more gambling machines and over $51,000 in cash.
“These illegal operations undermine neighborhood safety, fuel violence, and erode trust in our community,” said City Manager Jennifer Maguire.
In addition to the cash and gambling machines, police found a battery of weapons, including seven rifles, a shotgun, 10 handguns, thousands of rounds of ammunition, ghost gun manufacturing parts, butterfly knives, and brass knuckles.
Mexican Cartels Linked to Illegal Gambling Dens
“All of these places, someone in the Mexican Mafia has their hand over it,” said Richard Velasquez, a Los Angeles County sheriff’s detective who has busted scores of casitas.
Velasquez was speaking three years ago in response to the killing of a woman who had been working at a casita.
The recent double homicide and subsequent arrests suggest not much has changed in the interim.
“The way I see it, the Mexican Mafia is not much different than the Italian mob,” Velasquez told the LA Times. “You open a smoke shop, you’re selling gaming software or you have a [gambling] machine, some Southsider” — a gang member working under the Mexican Mafia — “is going to walk in there and say, ‘Hey, you can’t do this in our area without our permission, without our protection.’”
Police Alleged to Be Turning a Blind Eye
When announcing the arrests from the recent raids, San Jose Police Chief Paul Joseph stated, “This operation reflects our commitment to aggressively pursue those who operate outside the law and threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”
However, residents allege that police know the operators of the venues and have taken little action for years.
A resident reported having a friend who ran two venues in the city, claiming to make “a thousand profit from each place every single day.”
“One time we were hanging in one of his casinos late at night and the second we left we got rolled up on by LASD,” they added. “Cop sarcastically asked him how his ‘tap taps’ were going and he just laughed. The cop just drove away.”
Is Tribal Gambling Exclusivity Fueling Gambling Dens?
Florida also has a persistent problem with illegal gambling arcades. Every month brings news of more raids on venues offering residents the chance to gamble illegally.
Like California, tribal groups in Florida have exclusive rights to offer gambling in the state, barring a few minor exceptions.
Critics argue that the tribal exclusive model is fueling criminal networks, whereas increased legalization and regulation could prevent the killings and other crimes that come with illegal gambling.
“These operations target those on fixed incomes or with addiction concerns just to turn a profit,” said Joseph. Similar accusations have been leveled at legal betting companies.
In Florida, Volusia County Sheriff Michael Chitwood noted that illegal venues pose additional risks. He stated, “These casinos are connected to money laundering, drug smuggling, and human trafficking.”
It remains unclear whether legalization would reduce the associated crime with illegal gambling dens or whether the prevalence of the venues in Florida and California is a sign of more systemic issues in communities.
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