A six-month investigation has led to police arresting 13 people for offenses associated with illegal gambling rooms in Kailua-Kona and Hilo, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
A six-month investigation has led to police arresting 13 people for offenses associated with illegal gambling rooms in Kailua-Kona and Hilo, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Working the Area II Criminal Intelligence Unit, Area II Vice Section officers identified the illegal Kona establishment owner as Hilo resident Sergio Cabal and his sole employee as Kailua-Kona resident Aaron Hiraishi.
Police served a search warrant Friday at the establishment in Unit 105 at 74-5589 Alapa Street, where they recovered 17 illegal video gambling machines, gambling records and $18,207 in cash. Both Cabal and Hiraishi were present, along with 10 individuals who were playing on illegal video gambling machines.
Cabal, 44, and Hiraishi, 54, were arrested on suspicion of promoting gambling, possessing gambling devices and possessing gambling records, police said.
The following Kailua-Kona residents were arrested on suspicion of gambling: 33-year-old Annie Abraham, 33-year-old Fred Alokoa, 32-year-old Tilda Alokoa, 43-year-old Yun Choo, 41-year-old Gaius Ittu, 61-year-old Renell Kaupu-Kaialiilii, 51-year-old Marie Pai, 26-year-old Peter Palikshru, 33-year-old Shrue Tosie and 35-year-old Timothy Sigrah. They were held overnight at the Kona police cellblock and released Saturday pending further investigation, police said.
Area I Vice Section officers served another search warrant Friday at a similar gambling establishment at 288 Kilauea Avenue in Hilo. They arrested Cabal’s wife, 38-year-old Ruth Cabal, on suspicion of promoting gambling, possessing gambling devices and possessing gambling records. She was held at the Hilo police cellblock overnight and released Saturday pending further investigation.
Sergio Cabal was arrested again Monday, this time on suspicion of promoting gambling, possessing gambling devices and possessing gambling records at the Hilo establishment. He was again released pending further investigation.
The Area I and Area II Vice Section are continuing this investigation, which stemmed from community complaints, police said.
To report suspected illegal gambling, call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.