CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Detectives from the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division executed search warrants at two illegal gambling establishments on Thursday afternoon. The raids resulted in the seizure of illegal gaming equipment and the arrest of four employees.
The first raid took place at an unnamed game room in the 1900 block of South Padre Island Drive, where detectives seized 102 illegal gaming components and one ATM, according to a press release from the department. A second search warrant was executed at a game room in the 1700 block of South Padre Island Drive, leading to the seizure of 119 items of illegal gambling equipment, one ATM, and over $25,000 in cash.
Employees Jayla Garcia, a 21-year-old, Raykwon Blake, a 24-year-old, Erick Castro, a 25-year-old, and Orly Villarreal, a 26-year-old, were arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including Violation of the Nueces County Game Room Ordinance, Keeping a Gambling Place, Gambling Promotion, Possession of a Gambling Device, and Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity. Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity is a state jail felony, punishable by up to two years in jail and a maximum $10,000 fine, while the other charges are class A misdemeanors. Additionally, 25 adult patrons inside the game room were cited for gambling, a class C misdemeanor.
The operations were the culmination of months-long investigations that uncovered evidence of illegal gambling, and further arrests are anticipated as the investigation continues. The Corpus Christi Police Department was assisted by officers from the CCPD Traffic Section and an investigator with the Office of the Texas Comptroller.
The department reminds citizens that game rooms paying out cash rewards or rewards redeemable for cash are engaging in illegal gambling, and both patrons and management face criminal charges. The Corpus Christi Police Department remains committed to collaborating with local, state, and federal partners to combat illegal gambling and enforce Texas gambling laws, aiming to reduce crime and improve community quality of life.