Houston: FBI’s major crackdown against illegal gambling: 45 people arrested, including Pakistani-origin individuals, staff, and corrupt police officers.
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
Houston, Texas – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement agencies conducted large-scale operations in Houston and Harris County, raiding 30 illegal game rooms and arresting 45 individuals. Among those arrested were Pakistani-origin business owners, staff members, and two police officers accused of providing protection to these illegal gambling dens.
During the operation, the FBI also raided the residence of a Pakistani-origin alleged gambling den owner, with videos of the raid recorded by local residents and shared on social media. This operation exposed a vast corruption network involving bribery and other illegal activities between illegal gambling operators and certain corrupt law enforcement officers.
Investigations revealed that more than 20 illegal game rooms were being operated in Houston and Harris County, generating millions of dollars in illicit revenue. These establishments allegedly had backing from influential government officials, allowing them to run unchecked for several years. According to sources, hefty bribes were paid to ensure protection from police action. Additionally, corrupt police officers pressured rival business owners to shut down their game rooms. Due to these widespread illegal activities, the matter eventually caught the attention of the FBI, leading to extensive investigations and today’s major crackdown.
The FBI and other federal agencies arrested 16 key individuals in this operation, including Nizar Ali, Naeem Ali, Aamir Khan, Eshan Dhoka, Shil Krovaliya, Safarez Mardia, Shoaib Mardia, Yolande Figueroa, Viviana Alvarado, Anabel Eloisa Guevara, Priscilla Solis, Maria Dela Rosa, Claudia Calderon, and Lucia Hernandez. Two individuals, Syed Ali and Stephanie Horta, remain at large. They face serious charges, including conspiracy, operating illegal gambling businesses, engaging in interstate criminal activities, and money laundering. If convicted, they could face prison sentences ranging from five to twenty years.
Further investigations revealed that over 30 undocumented immigrants were employed as armed security guards to protect these illegal game rooms. Some of those arrested also have serious criminal records, including financial crimes, child exploitation, and other unlawful activities. Authorities also discovered that social media was being used for the promotion of these operations. Online groups and pages such as “Cici Baytown” and “Cici Chinatown” were reportedly utilized to attract more people to these illegal gambling activities.
During the raid, the FBI and other agencies seized over 2,000 illegal slot machines, eight firearms, 100 expensive Rolex watches, $4.5 million in cash, $6.5 million in bank accounts and other financial assets, as well as several luxury vehicles.
This scandal has become a major test for efforts to combat corruption in Houston and Harris County, as it involves allegations of illegal gambling, money laundering, and law enforcement corruption. If these charges are confirmed through further investigation, those responsible could face severe legal consequences. This case could serve as a turning point in upholding the rule of law in Houston, and the public hopes that all individuals involved in this scandal will be brought to justice.
