Police Search Alleged Illegal Gambling Business in San Leandro, House in San Ramon

Police on Tuesday searched an alleged illegal gambling business in San Leandro and seized large sums of cash from it as well as from its owner in San Ramon, police said. Detectives from the San Leandro Police Department’s crime suppression unit and agents from the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Gambling Control executed the warrants at Dimond Internet Services at 767 Marina Blvd. and the business owner’s home in San Ramon, police said.

Authorities approached the owner and owners of similar businesses more than two years ago to notify them they were operating illegally, with the intent to give them time to close without penalty, police said. At that time, police sent a letter to the owner of Dimond Internet Services to demand he cease operating, but the owner failed to comply, police said. Since then, community members have continued to complain about the business and the associated criminal activity in the 700 block of Marina Boulevard, according to police.

Officers responded to more than 120 calls close to the business and have arrested 12 people on suspicion of possessing narcotics, auto theft and offenses related to domestic violence, police said. Officers have made other stops of the business’s customers farther away from the business, according to police. Police Lt. Robert McManus said the crime related to the business has impacted the city.

“We attempted to resolve the issue by asking the owner to close, but our request was ignored, causing us to conduct a criminal investigation into the alleged illegal activities occurring at the business known for internet-based gambling.”

Investigators said Dimond Internet Services had at least 70 computers that were open to the public for gambling, police said. Customers played games such as “Jacks or Better,” paying money for credits to play the games, according to police. Customers earned points to either purchase items on the Internet or receive cash winnings, police said. McManus said some winners walked away with hundreds or thousands of dollars, according to police. Officers did not make any arrests Tuesday, but are planning to present the case to prosecutors with the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office after completing the investigation, according to police.

Police said at this time they are not releasing the names of the people involved in the investigation. Anyone with information related to the case or any other is being asked to call San Leandro police at (510) 577-3230.

By Bay City News

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