Nine people were arrested Wednesday in Pomona for allegedly running an illegal gambling operation at six different locations.
According to the Pomona Police Department, officers executed a search warrant Wednesday targeting illegal gambling at several locations: 877 E. Phillips Blvd. ; 1090 S Garey Avenue; 1649 E.Mission Blvd. suite B; 854 E.Mission Blvd.; 540 E. Foothill Blvd.; and 570 West Holt Ave.
“When I came out, the street where the SWAT team was located was blocked off. Sales started to break,” said Joanna Sandoval, a neighborhood neighbor.
Officers seized several gaming tables, and inside you could see how the house was divided into areas where what appeared to be a bar was set up. “I had no idea what was going on in that house, (I was just) watching people come in day and night and now that I know there was illegal gambling I’m glad they’re closing it down,” added Sandoval.
The house on the 800 block of Phillips Street went unnoticed, as on the outside it pretended to be another house in the neighborhood without any of the neighbors suspecting what was going on there.
“I’ve lived here for 3 years and I don’t know the neighbours. I’m still inside my house, going to work and getting out of work, but still inside the house,” said neighborhood resident Irene Salas.
CBP reported that during this year shipments of pirated products have been seized in Los Angeles and Long Beach that are sold online.
For most of the neighbors, the most shocking thing is that the place was located a few meters from a primary school and where dozens of parents pass with their children almost every day.
“Above all, the safety of the children, the children will be there at 8 a.m. to 7 a.m. if it is for the good of the children,” said Andrés Gallegos, a resident of the district.
According to neighbors, three to four people were arrested this morning, information that the authorities have not yet confirmed, all the seized gaming machines and accessories will be made available to the authorities.