Indictment issued in May 8-liner raids
By BRENDA SOMMER bsommer@leader-news.com

A man has been indicted for engaging in organized crime as a result of a county-wide raid on 8-line amusement machines back in May.

During a massive round-up on May 14, an estimated 175 machines and an undetermined amount of money was seized from a dozen locations in Wharton County, along with other gambling paraphernalia, cash registers and at least two safes.

In El Campo, five businesses were raided and their eight-liner machines confiscated: Bill's Drive- In at 616 N. Wharton, L-Stop Food Mart at 411 N. Wharton, Ricebird Drive-In at 402 W. Jackson, Ruben's at 819 Hoskins Broadway, and Sunnyside Inn at 1214 S. Mechanic, according to El Campo Police Sgt. Wayne Denson. Raids also occurred in the cities of Wharton and East Bernard, and at the El Campo Truck Stop at 21411 U.S. 59 North.

The investigation leading to the round-up was conducted by the District Attorney's Narcotics Task Force with undercover assistance from other law enforcement agencies, DA Josh McCown said. That list included the El Campo Police Department, Wharton Police Department, Wharton County Sheriff's Office, Wharton County Precinct 2 Constable Office, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Matagorda County Sheriff's Office.

In a recently unsealed indictment, Tin Van Ha, 36, of 14300 Berrington Dr. in Houston was indicted on a felony charge of engaging in organized crime. The indictment was issued Sept. 2. Ha allegedly operated a gambling place and made more than $1,500 from it.

Assistant District Attorney Ross Kurtz said Ha ran Fun Time Game Room in East Bernard, located at 1125 Hwy. 90A

"This is the only case where we have indicted someone for a felony so far," Kurtz said. Engaging in organized crime is a state jail felony, he said.

"At this point we're still looking at the other cases and it's yet to be decided if any felony charges will be filed."

The 8-line machines are still being kept by the task force in undisclosed locations.

"At this point they're kept as evidence," Kurtz said. Disposition of the machines will be determined on a case-by-case basis, he added.

No arrests were made back in May when the raids occurred. At that time, DA Josh Mc- Cown said the potential charges faced by the owners and operators of the various machines and business locations where they were seized are promotion of gambling, keeping a gambling place, possession of gambling paraphernalia, money laundering and potential organized criminal activities.

McCown said the investigation was started in response to a number of complaints received by the county's various law enforcement agencies. He said several complaints came from individuals who had played the games and felt cheated or from people who had witnessed cash pay-outs, which are a violation of Texas Law.