4 Of 19 Defendants In Illegal Gambling Crackdown Plead Guilty

WESTMINSTER (CBS) — Four of 19 defendants charged in a crackdown on illegal gambling devices in Garden Grove cafes pleaded guilty Tuesday and were sentenced to 18 months of probation.

KNX 1070's Mike Landa Reports

Farrah Emami of the Orange County District Attorney's Office says 17 of 19 defendants accused of possessing and operating slot machine-type devices appeared before a judge in Westminster Court for arraignment.

Four of those defendants pleaded guilty and were sentenced by Orange County Superior Court Judge Beatriz Gordon to 18 months of formal probation and ordered to give up the slot machines and any money gained from them, Emami said.

The gambling crackdown is the result of a three-month multi-law enforcement investigation that culminated in a March 29 sweep of Garden Grove businesses in which officers seized hundreds of gambling machines and $140,000 in cash, according to authorities.

Another 13 defendants also made their first court appearance Tuesday but their arraignments were rescheduled for June 2. In addition, arrest warrants were issued for two who failed to show up.

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