Four slot machines seized in Fresno illegal gambling operation

Four men were arrested Wednesday night in south-central Fresno after detectives investigating a marijuana-growing operation made an unusual discovery: an illegal gambling setup that featured casino-like slot machines, authorities said.

Detectives located four of the machines, along with money suspected in relation to the crimes, said Sgt. Paul Cervantes of the Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium (MAGEC) Metropolitan Tactical Team.

Cervantes said a find like this is unusual because of the ease with which these machines can be moved from location to location.

Typically, he said, a network of individuals work at one location but transfer the machines frequently to avoid detection, making them that much harder to track down.

The detectives had conducted a sweep of the house in the 2300 block of E. Thomas Ave. to search for drug paraphernalia related to a marijuana cultivation.

Among the drugs and gambling systems found at the residence, detectives also found a handgun and a safe that detectives suspect contains more illegal firearms, Cervantes said.

“It was ... good fortune to stumble across this,” Cervantes said. He called it a “significant illegal gaming operation” and said that it could have caused extensive danger to the neighborhood.

The primary suspect is a 46-year-old male believed to live at the residence. Two of the four men arrested are previous convicted felons, Cervantes said, adding to the charges the suspects will face.

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 7:07 AM with the headline "Four slot machines seized in Fresno illegal gambling operation."