21 Detained In Raid On Illegal Gambling Ring In Santa Ana

SANTA ANA (CBSLA) – Police detained 21 people Wednesday in a raid on an illegal gambling ring at a cyber cafe in Santa Ana.

The Lucky 999 Cyber Café located in a strip mall in the 1300 block of North Grand Avenue was raided at around 6 a.m. by undercover officers, Santa Ana police report.

Police served a search warrant after receiving multiple complaints from neighbors. Along with the 21 people detained, 19 gambling machines were also seized. The machines can make up to $20,000 in cash per week, police at the scene told .

"After receiving numerous community complaints about the 24-hour operation of this illegal establishment," Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. "We've gotten several cases from the gang unit where they've gotten individuals in possession of firearms, possession of narcotics, we've had pursuits out of this location."

It' s unclear who owns the cafe, which opened about one year ago. CBS2 cameras caught one man being lead away in handcuffs to a waiting patrol car to be transported to the Santa Ana jail.

This marks the second time in the past seven months that an illegal gambling ring was busted at a Santa Ana internet cafe. On Sept. 13, Santa Ana and Anaheim police detained dozens of people in a raid on the Happy Time Cyber Internet Cafe, located in the area of 17th and Bristol streets.

That raid also followed months of complaints from neighbors regarding illegal and armed gang activity inside the cafe.