Underground gambling operation uncovered in Mission

MISSION - Police busted an illegal gambling operation over the weekend that involved as many as 50 people, authorities said.

About 11 p.m. Saturday, Mission police officers executed a search warrant at a residence at 911 Keystone Drive, south of Expressway 83 near Stewart Road, police spokesman Lt. Martin Garza said Sunday.

After officers entered the home, they discovered about 50 people playing poker around three large tables inside the living room.

About $4,000 in cash was recovered, including about $1,800 hidden inside a woman's bra - most of which was in 20-dollar bills, Garza said. Officers also found two small bags of cocaine that seemed to be hidden by some of the underground casino's patrons, he said.

Only the home's primary tenant will likely face criminal charges in connection with the illegal gambling operation, Garza said. The man lives there with his wife and three children - who were asleep at the time of the raid, he said.

Home poker games typically do not break state gambling laws.

But because police believe the tenant was collecting a cover charge at the door and dealers were collecting tips from patrons, that made this gambing operation illegal, Garza said.

"That's what makes the gambling illegal - when the house makes money," he said.

The organizer is set to face gambling promotion charges at an arraignment Monday afternoon. His name won't be released until then.

Police had performed surveillance operations on the house after receiving several tips from neighbors about suspicious activity there late at night, according to Garza.

"It is important that people get involved in these types of things in a neighborhood," he said.

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Jared Taylor covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.