Austin, Williamson County Police Team Up To Bust Illegal Gambling Ring in Hutto (Video)

AUSTIN, TX — An Austin Police Department investigation into an illegal gambling operation has led to the arrest of a suspect for organized crime and money laundering, police said on Tuesday.

In late January, the police department's Organized Crime Division’s Human Trafficking/Vice Unit began an investigation into several illegal gambling operations throughout the Austin area, officials said. Following several search warrants at various game room locations and with the cooperation of subjects related to those investigations, detectives identified Chong Won Pak, 53, as the primary suspect believed to own the illegal game room operation, according to police.

Detectives in the organized crimes unit conducted an additional three months of surveillance on Pak and his associates, leading to probable cause to search Pak’s residence in the 1200 block of Augusta Bend in Hutto, Texas, this past Monday (June 26), during which time members of the Austin Police Department and Williamson County SWAT Teams executed a search warrant at Pak’s residence.

During the search of the home, detectives found several documents linking Pak to the illegal operation and further seized the following:

• $724,736 in cash believed to be income derived from the operation of the illegal game rooms.
• Three vehicles estimated to be valued at $94,550.
• Approximately $7,500 in gold and silver ingots.

Police said the case continues to be an active investigation, and with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service, further search and arrests warrants are anticipated. Pak was charged with a first-degree felony of money laundering and a state jail felony charge for engaging in organized crime. If convicted, Pak could face up to life in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to police.

>>> Chong Won Pak booking photo courtesy of Austin Police Department