Nicholas J. Ganjei United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas | U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas
Several individuals from the Houston area have been taken into custody on charges related to an extensive illegal gambling and money laundering operation. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei announced this as one of the largest law enforcement efforts in the Southern District of Texas. Those arrested are scheduled for initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan.
In addition to the primary charges, authorities apprehended 31 individuals on various immigration and firearms violations during the operation on April 2, including an illegal alien accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer.
The indictment, unsealed after the arrests, names Nizar Ali, 61, from Richmond, among others, as conspirators in running illegal game rooms and money laundering operations. The illegal enterprises allegedly generated over $22 million, as noted in the charges.
More than 700 officers from 18 agencies executed 45 search and 40 seizure warrants across Houston. The searched locations included 30 illegal game rooms with names like El Portal and Yellow Building. Authorities seized over $4.5 million in cash, $5 million in assets, 2000 slot machines, 100 Rolex watches, and eight firearms. Approximately $6.5 million was also confiscated from financial institutions.
Additional individuals arrested are Naeem Ali, 33, and Amer Khan, 68, both from Richmond; Ishan Dhuka, 33, and Sahil Karovalia, 32, both from Rosenberg; Sarfarez Maredia, 38, and Shoaib Maredia, 40, both from Sugar Land; Yolanda Figueroa, 40, from Pasadena; Viviana Alvarado, 45, from LaPorte; and Anabel Eloisa Guevarra, 46, Precela Solis, 27, Maria Delarosa, 53, Claudia Calderon, 37, and Lucia Hernandez, 34, all from Houston.
Sayed Ali, 59, from Richmond, and Stephanie Huerta, 35, from Houston, remain at large with outstanding warrants for their arrest.
Charges include conspiracy, operating illegal gambling businesses, and interstate travel aiding racketeering, each carrying a possible prison sentence of five years. The money laundering conspiracy charge could result in a 20-year term. Nizar Ali also faces 32 counts of bribery, accused of paying over $500,000 to an undercover officer to protect the illegal operations, each charge carrying a 10-year sentence. Fines on these charges range up to $250,000, with the money laundering charge potentially reaching $500,000 or double the property's value.
The investigation, led by ICE-HSI and IRS Criminal Investigation, involved coordination with the Houston Police Department, FBI, and numerous other agencies. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Mark McIntyre, John Marck, and Carolyn Ferko, with asset seizure managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brandon Fyffe and Tyler Foster.
It's important to note that an indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
