The first thing you notice when you enter Mike Chapa's 14th Street "La Catroce" bar is the absence of the tell-tale computer-generated singsong and the twirling of the cherries, apples and number 7s against the back wall.
Like many other blue-collar drinking establishments, Chapa had struck a deal with a maquinita (eight-liner) dealer to have the two or three machines placed along the rear of the bar past the pool table where patrons could drop in their dollar and take their chances. Resting atop the machines were rolls of napkins and a few cheap electronic appliances. Chapa would only say that the players could win prizes.
But now, as the task force of city, county, state and federal law enforcement agents carry out the Operation Bishop and have begun raiding eight-liner and computer generated gambling establishments, Chapa, like may others, decided he didn't need the headaches and worry about losing his business over them. So he contacted the owner of the machines and had him remove them from the premises. Others are doing the same.
Down Southmost Road, toward Oklahoma Road, another operator with two eight-liner operations has also unilaterally shut down the salons, waiting to see how far Cameron County District Attorney Luis Saenz is going with the plan to shut down all eight-liner businesses in the county.
In fact, just a little after 9 p.m. last night, the word spread like wild fire that former Brownsville Mayor Pat Ahumada's Goldmine was being raided and a little later, the Ahumada had been booked and jailed for keeping a gambling place.
The DA's office held a press conference this morning which Pat – out on bond – attended to state his case.
At that press conference, county authorities said that in addition to Ahumada's establishment – the Goldmine 777, 854 N. U.S. Expressway 77/83 in Brownsville – the Longhorn Sweepstakes, 113 W. Queen Isabella (Highway 100) in Port Isabel, was also raided.
There were rumors abounding that the Port Isabel business was owned by Justice of the Peace Benny Ochoa, but information provided by ;law enforcement sources indicated that Ocha had owned such an establishment at Port Isabel in the past but was no longer associated with the business.
There are as many opinions pro and con about the eight-liner business, which if kept legal, is a lawful, state -approved enterprise. But everyone knows that if there is not a chance to win money by playing them, the allure for customers would be gone.
In the last raid pulled by the task force, five eight-liner operations were shut down. And even though Ahumada claimed that his business did not use eight liners but rather was an Internet cafe, the distinction was lost on Saenz.
“There is a gross misconception that a Sweepstakes is legal gambling either because they utilize a computer system and/or they benefit a local charity,” said Saenz. “Bottom line: If a Sweepstakes is paying out at least $5 in cash, it is illegal.”
Law enforcement authorities say that they are not after blue-haired ladies to arrest them over gambling. Rather, they point out that the eight-liner have become a haven for money laundering by the Mexican cartels.
"I once saw an armored car picking up money from some eight-liners in La Feria with two guys standing on either side of the door with AR 15s," said the owner of an eight-liner in Brownsville. "It was way too obvious that they were not just running a small operation, but that there was a considerable amount of money being run through those places."
Saenz, who takes his role as the county's top- lawmen seriously when it comes to possible organized crime activity right under his nose, has stated in private conversations in the past that the operators of such establishments have been flaunting the their muscle for way too long.
"Go to La Feria and see for yourself that they have neon signs and flashing lights out in the open for anyone to see," he said recently. "They are actually rubbing it in our face. I can't allow that to happen. This operations are going to continue."
27 comments:
If people want to gamble than why aren't our elected officials putting up this matter as a constitunial amendment, let the people decide.
The Cameron County Sheriff has refused to take action against 8-liners because in his flawed logic, while the state ponders casinos, he will wait to enforce current law...because it might change. What a dumbass we have as deputy dawg for Cameron County. I note that Pat Ahumada was part of the latest "sting" on 8-liners. Are we getting rid of illegal gambling, or is DA Luis Saenz only getting rid of the competition for his friends who own 8-liners? Is this law enforcement or is this political pay-back? No doubt Luis Saenz will either overlook his friends/political allies with 8-liners or he is just giving them time to close shop?? I believe this is a public relations play by DA Luis Saenz and nada mas.
A TODOS LOS QUE QUIEREN A AHUMADA COMO ALCALDE,PUES MIREN YA LE CAYERON AL GUEY,SIEMPRE FUE CORRUPTO Y LE IMPORTO Y LE SIGUIO Y AHORA QUE. 'ADVERTENCIA'...NO ESTOY DE ACUERDO AL FALTA DE HUEVOS DE MARTINEZ COMO ALCALDE.
The Feds are pressuring Saenz to crack down on corruption but instead of looking in the county courthouse he's going after mom and pop. If you read this article or one like
It in the news paper ask your self if it's really that immoral
To merit such a costly and dramatic response,
Why doesn't the DA goes to arrest the La Feria eigh-Liners?
The Weslaco, Hidalgo, Harlingen eight-Liners?
Does the DA hastes Ahumada so much, the raided only the Sweepstakes in the Frontage and the one on SPI?
After reading the Herald article it appears that You and the fat naked guy from the voice way over exaggerated this story. She is clean get over it!
Oye Montoya, Saenz and his enforcers chingaron a Pat Ahumada! Now Ahumada is screaming foul because he thinks that Saenz has a personal vendetta? Ahumada, let it go! You got lucky by an uneducated jury and got away with stealing a check for your personal gain! Now, you admit that you violated the law by paying more than five dollars and you want to cry foul? Estas bien pendejo! Your a worthless piece of shit!
Good for Luis! Hopefully he will continue his efforts county-wide, and clean it all up! The cockroaches in La Feria and San Benito have already started scrambling!
More, elected officials need to be wary, if he does it right.
The two eightliner establishments referred to as being in the Southmost area belong to former County Commissioner Lucino Rosenbaum. Just saying.
DA Saenz should raid his church next! They operate unlicensed bingo. Que huevos de puto! He runs on one platform and then pulls a Chief Garcia and f$&@s his constituents. One term DA, 4 years passes quickly and everyone will still remember you banged up or secretary cabron. Sin verguensa!
If the cartels were involved you wouldn't be handling cases! It's hype and propaganda. The Feds would be crucifying people if the cartels were involved
It should be the duties of the DA's office to prosecute cases brought to him by real law enforcement agencies. His investigators should be spending their time chasing dead beat dads and the like. It seems like an abuse of power (also against the law) to form a new law enforcement branch.
allegedly 240 game rooms with let's say maybe several hundred people frequenting every week. You do the math, that's allot of pissed of voters. He'll NEVER get re-elected. He's going nuts trying to change his legacy of tail chasing. He'll now be known as the DA that kept old ladies from entertainment.
This is truly a state issue because there are no federal gaming laws not related to cross state or internet gambling. Texas gambling law does not have much bite to it.
Why doesn't the DA goes to arrest the La Feria eigh-Liners?
The Weslaco, Hidalgo, Harlingen eight-Liners?
Weslaco and Hidalgo are not Cameron County.
Does the DA hastes Ahumada so much, the raided only the Sweepstakes in the Frontage and the one on SPI?
There were five other raids last month.
Agencies and entities participating in these raids were: The Department of Homeland Security, FBI, DEA, Cameron County District Attorney’s Office, Cameron County Judge’s Office and Cameron County Emergency Management, Cameron County Sheriff’s Department, Cameron County Constable’s Office – Precinct 5, Brownsville PD, Port Isabel PD and San Benito PD.
The FEDS! Not just the DA's Office.
Yes but I think it's his joint task force. They wouldn't all be working together if it wasn't a task force
Nevertheless, this is ridiculous. Government should stay out of enforcing morality. I have not and will not visit one of the many 8-liner establishments, but I have no problem with those who do. Our government(s) at the national, state, and local levels exude incompetency.
Innocent until prove guilty or otherwise, i say thats the las in these united states whether you liek the dud at humada or not, i really think its a personal vendetta by luis saenz nothing else, oh wel us folks we elected this da and have to live with him for the next 4 years or less, unless he gets some charge of being in bed with villalobos whch i think and do beleive he was, no mas que dice que no.
sO THEY ALL GOT OVERTIME PAY ... I FEEL SO SAFE. grandma not happy
Those agencies are all involved in a task force that includes a few from each division all under Luis' control
This is a 18 month federal investigation.Saenz is only doing what he's told.Cartels are putting up the money for these 8 liners and washing their money through them.Just maybe Cameron County will get cleaned up in the process.
Call your representative in Austin and tell them to change the law and make gambling legal. Because its illegal, more and more gangmembers are wising up and robbing more of those places. how happy is grandma when that happens?
Illegal is illegal. Those ILLEGAL gambling places are trashy and attract trashy people. If you want to gamble, buy a lottery ticket or scratch off. You can even go to Vegas which is better than any shady place in Brownsville. Way to go Mr. Saenz! Clean up our city! What amazes me even more than this gambling nonsense is that we finally get a good DA and people are still complaining. Is there no hope that Brownsville will ever progress?
@3:10
Nobody tells the DA what to do unless he's committed a crime and the Feds are letting him off as long as he does what they want.
If you want Cameron County cleaned up start with the courthouse, clean elections and bid rigging by BISD, BEDC,PUB, United Brownsville, etc.
How do you know cartels are putting money up for 8 liners. I happen to know that is not a fact in every location I know of.....It seems you believe everything you read and are told to believe. If a cartel is involved in ANYTHING 8 liners, taqueria, tire shop, anything then have the DEA or FBI bust them. Don't try to make this about cartels because it is simply not true. It just makes for good headlines. Just like busting Pat who is not the longest running sweepstakes in Brownsville makes for good headlines. Every local law enforcement agency said they were legal and that's a fact.
Hey Einstein.....he is the DA in CAMERON COUNTY! Weslaco/Hidalgo are NOT in CAMERON COUNTY.
@5:29.After the last DA,the judges, the attorney's etc..... the FBI IS WATCHING soooo..Everybody is doing their jobs a little better.Yes,I would like to see Cameron cleaned up. Don't you? I agree with you especially in regards to the courthouses .i am,however, a realist and don't see decades worth of messes being cleaned up overnight.MOST of the people who "own" the game rooms are fronts who got their start up money from Narcos in exchange for their names on the leases,or any permits or even just for working there, etc.The people who lease out these machines , are often the same people ,,,and/or also NARCOS they rig them and take a percentage as well as launder money through them.This is why DEA AND Homeland are involved .FBI is involved because they are paying off public officials for pre raid warnings, and to operate.If your already bribing the cops for the 8 liner business why not bribe them to escort your dope? Or you could blackmail them ? THAT'S WHAT PUBLIC OFFICIALS OPEN THEMSELVES UP TO WHEN THEY TAKE BRIBES..I believe Pat was made an example of and that he will snitch on who he took money from when he was mayor and who's paying who now etc...ALSO the fact is ,it's ONLY legal up to $5.
@5:29.
I don't happen to believe the narco conspiracy. I do agree that if a public official takes a bribe for protecting 8 liners or any other business they will most likely take bribe money to protect dopers.
CRime and Corruption rules in Brownsville all the way from McAllen & Harlingen. Those cities flourish while our town turns into a cess pool. If the DA is clamping down on crime, hell, I say don't clamp CRUSH! Screw compadrismo. You all really have no idea what other crap is coming our way.
I guess they did a good thing to have the 8-liners remove from their establishment before the raid. It saves them from penalties and possible charges. Thanks anyway for sharing this information.
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