California Gambling Party Robbed by Gunmen in Private Home

Posted on: April 12, 2022, 03:57h. 

Last updated on: April 13, 2022, 09:58h.

Ed Silverstein @casinoorgedsilv Read More
Expertise: Legal, Tribal Gaming.

Armed bandits robbed several people gambling in a Riverside, Calif. residence on Sunday night. They stole an unspecified amount of cash, jewels, and cell phones.

Riverside, Calif. Police Department SUV
Riverside, Calif. Police Department SUV, pictured above. Local police are investigating the robbery of a residence. The occupants were gambling when the bandits entered. (Image: Riverside Police Department)

Local police were still looking for the robbers on Monday. The gambling going on in the house was illegal, Riverside police revealed. So far, none of those at the residence were charged.

The robbers entered the gated home and fled after taking the loot. Someone at the house met local police at a nearby grocery store. Each of the robbers was wearing a mask, according to the Press-Enterprise, a California newspaper. Police did not provide additional details on the gunmen.

The gamblers were said to be largely uncooperative with authorities when they were contacted by phone. The vice unit of the Riverside Police Department has launched an investigation into the gambling taking place in the residence, the Press-Enterprise said.

It was unknown if the robbers knew about the gambling before entering the house.

California Gambling-Related Crime

Last week police broke up gambling taking place in a Pomona, Calif. residence.

A suspect, Alicia Morgan, 37, of Pomona, was arrested for operating an illegal gambling casino, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a loaded/unregistered firearm, and being a felon in possession of ammunition, the Pomona Police Department said. She was booked at the Pomona City Jail and will later appear in court, according to California’s City News Service.

In another incident last month, a man was arrested following a fatal fight at Oroville, Calif.’s Feather Falls Casino & Lodge. A victim died in the gaming property during the struggle.

He was later identified as Dennis Wold, 55, of Chico, Calif. A suspect, Michael Livermore, 37, of Oroville, was charged with murder, according to a statement from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.

When deputies arrived, initially, they had to search for Livermore. He ran away from the gaming venue following the fight, deputies said. A short time later, they located Livermore and apprehended him.

Baccarat Cheating Scheme

In another incident, a husband and wife will be spending about eight months in jail for a California theft scheme during baccarat games at Parkwest Casino 580. They also must pay back $507,600 in restitution. The illicit scheme occurred at the Livermore, Calif. gaming property between 2015 and 2017. Tran was a dealer at Casino 580.

Originally, Bonta claimed the duo stole about $4 million in the cheating scheme while playing EZ Baccarat Panda 8. Nguyen was a professional gambler and former employee at Casino 580, according to court documents.

An investigation revealed that Tran allegedly peeked at the sequence of cards after shuffling. She then conveyed the card sequence to Nguyen using text messages before she left the gaming table, Bonta said. Nguyen then played at the table and began to bet after spotting the sequence of cards, Bonta added.

Later, the couple was apprehended on May 6, 2020, while in Texas. Recently, they pleaded guilty to felony grand theft. In 2020, the couple was also charged with conspiracy to commit grand theft.

Following their release from incarceration, Eric Nguyen and Khanh “Tina” Tran will also be placed on supervised probation for two years, recently announced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta.