HOUSTON (KRLD) - Houston officers raided two poker clubs today.
Nine owner-operators were charged with money laundering in an organized crime investigation by the Harris County District Attorney's office and Houston police that spanned the last two years.
The businesses are named the Post Oak Poker Club and the Prime Social Poker Club.
Investigators say the clubs’ bank accounts are frozen and face being seized. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg is quoted as saying, "Poker rooms are illegal in the State of Texas, We are changing the paradigm regarding illegal gambling by moving up the criminal chain and pursuing felony money laundering and engaging in organized crime charges against owners and operators. Players are not being targeted."
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo is quoted as saying, "We can’t allow illegal gambling to go on. It drives organized crime and fuels other criminal activity."
Houston Police and the District Attorney’s Office wrapped up an investigation last year that resulted in the arrest of nearly three dozen people, including three police officers and key gambling figures in Chinatown and elsewhere.
The persons charged and locations raided Wednesday include:
Post Oak Poker Club, 1001 West Loop South, Suite 400 Daniel Jeffery Kebort, owner William Jack Heuer III, owner Alan Harris Chodrow, owner Sergio Diaz Cabrera, owner Kevin Louis Chodrow, owner
Prime Social Poker Room 7801 Westheimer Rd.
Dean Maddox, owner
Mary Switzer, comptroller
Brent J. Pollack, general manager
Steven Farshid, assistant general manager