Three Charged In Texarkana Gambling House Bust

TEXARKANA, Texas–Two men and a woman have been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity for allegedly operating an arcade with a secret room where illegal gambling machines were available for players who knew how to arrange access.

Andrew Tran, 26, and siblings Quyen Le, 21, and Thanh Le, 31, have been charged in the case. Each faces six months to two years in state jail if convicted.

When the Texarkana Texas Police Dept. received a tip in May that Crown Gameroom, a business in the 2700 block of New Boston Road in Texarkana, Texas, had illegal gaming machines on the premises, investigators stopped by and conducted a property check. All they found were the “100% skill-based machines” that are legal under Texas law, according to a probable cause affidavit.

In July, investigators met with someone who claimed there were illegal machines in the business but said they were in a room that could only be accessed with a key pad. Detectives reviewed body camera footage recorded during the June visit and could see a door with an electronic keypad entrance panel that officers did not enter at that time.

Investigators learned that a person wishing to play on the illegal machines allegedly needed to arrange entrance with one of the Crown Gameroom staff members, the affidavit said. Investigators allegedly used an undercover operative to record footage of what was going on in the secured room.

In a recording, the undercover operative put $50 of special investigation unit cash in a machine that allowed them to play poker, keno and blackjack, the affidavit said. They were able to cash out $450 in winnings on that visit but lost the entire $50 on a subsequent visit, the affidavit said.

Tran, Quyen Le and Thanh Le were each allegedly recorded helping the undercover operative gambling in the secured room at Crown Gameroom, the affidavit said.

“The investigation showed that the gambling activity was organized and continuing in nature, involved at least three persons performing functions in furtherance of the operation, utilized controlled access and electronic communications to screen and admit gamblers, concealed the gambling machines from normal observation, and provided cash payouts based upon credits accumulated through the electronic gaming machines,” the affidavit said.

All three defendants are currently free on $50,000 bonds, according to the Bowie County Sheriff’s Office. Attorneys of record were not listed Wednesday for the defendants.

The case has been assigned to 202nd District Judge John Tidwell.