California card rooms’ federal bust ends in 25 indictments

More than two dozen people were arrested in a massive illegal gambling ring that authorities said netted $10 million in profits from sports betting, poker and other high-stakes games played at a swanky rented mansion in California.

A two-year long federal probe ended early Wednesday morning, when law enforcement officers barged inside two casinos—the Seven Mile Casino and the Black Jack Palomar Casino—in San Diego, Calif., and issued arrest warrants for 25 people accused of “conspiracy to launder millions in profits from high stakes poker games,” NBC San Diego reported.

Aside from California, similar arrests were also made in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nevada, Northern California, Los Angeles and Orange County on charges that range from bookmaking, money laundering and failing to report winnings to federal authorities, according to the report.

Among those arrested was former Philadelphia bookmaker David “Fat Dave” Stroj, who federal prosecutors said hired people to recruit players for the high-stakes games held several times weekly in the local clubs. The clients, meanwhile, wrote checks to the casinos, and the funds were deposited into “marker” accounts at the card rooms, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.