According to news reports, four Texas residents have been taken into custody for allegations of operating an illegal gambling business. The men, who range in age from 44 to 51, are facing multiple charges. The men were charged on Aug. 20 and are scheduled to appear at their first court hearing on Aug. 27.
Alleged illegal gambling business
The Department of Justice alleges that the men operated, managed, or owned the illegal gambling business from March 13, 2018, to Aug. 1, 2019. They are also alleged to have engaged in a conspiracy to launder money that they received from the gambling operation by concealing the proceeds’ source, location, nature, and control. Law enforcement officers reportedly seized gold bars, a Lamborghini, millions of dollars, and multiple vehicles.
Charges
The men are each facing a single count of engaging in a conspiracy to commit money laundering. They are also facing four counts of operating an illegal gambling operation. If the men are convicted of all of the charges that they are facing, they could face up to 20 years in prison and fines totaling $500,000.
Operating a gambling business in Texas is considered to be a type of organized criminal activity and can carry stiff penalties. People who are facing these types of charges may want to retain experienced criminal law attorneys as early as possible after their arrests. An attorney may conduct a careful analysis of the evidence to identify problems with the state’s case against his or her client and the potential defenses that might be raised against the allegations. A lawyer may file evidentiary motions to seek the suppression of some of the evidence against his or her client and work to secure a favorable plea agreement to reduced charges or an alternative sentence that avoids the potential for incarceration. In some cases, an attorney might fight for his or her client’s rights through the court process, up to and including advocating for his or her client before a jury at a trial.
