The San José Police Department's Street Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the MERGE Unit, busted a clandestine gambling den doubling as a narcotics and illegal firearms distributor on the 2800 block of Garden Avenue. The operation, unfolding on November 30th at the break of day, 6:30 AM, saw the detention of approximately 34 individuals within the seemingly inconspicuous residence. Officers unearthed a hive of illicit activity in what materialized as the culmination of a months-long investigation. The San José Police Department reported the arrest of three prime suspects tethered to the operation.
The house was no humble abode but a thriving underground casino married to the unlawful sale of drugs, brandishing the added illicitness of illegal firearms. Among those ensnared were Thuy Pham, 51; Xuan Nguyen, 46; and Vu Nguyen, 37, all listed with San José as their residence. Officers revealed that Pham and Xuan Nguyen, far from surrendering at first flush, had taken to the home's crawlspace to elude capture. The search yielded a trove of contraband, including nine gambling machines, $2075 in cash, and a slew of narcotics paraphernalia, along with approximately 44.1 grams of what officers suspected to be methamphetamine.
Amid the cache of illicit wares, law enforcement detailed the recovery of a stolen handgun engineered into a fully automatic machine pistol, a second firearm, bullets, and a loaded high-capacity magazine. These findings have led to the trio being slapped with a bevy of charges: multiple firearm-related offenses, drug sales, conspiracy, operating a drug house, and running an illegal gambling operation. Each has been booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail, while seven other individuals, caught up in the fray, faced booking for outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants.
As the San José Police Department continues to unravel the full extent of the criminal web, it reaches out to the community, urging any individual with insights to step forward. Information can be discreetly passed to Officer Brower at (408) 277-4166 or through email at [email protected]. Anonymity remains a cornerstone for those wishing to report clandestinely utilizing the P3TIPS mobile app, the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or online at www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org, submissions through which could qualify the informer for a cash reward courtesy of the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.
