19 defendants arraigned on gambling charges stemming from OC sweep

WESTMINSTER - Nineteen people made their first court appearance today on charges stemming from a crackdown on illegal gambling devices in Garden Grove cafes.

Prosecutors charged all 19 defendants with possession of an unlawful gaming device and possession or control of a slot machine, and all but two of them are also charged with operation and maintenance of a slot machine -- all misdemeanors.

A three-month, multi-agency investigation culminated in a March 29 sweep of Garden Grove businesses with gambling machines, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

The defendants -- owners or workers in 16 Garden Grove cafes -- are accused of possessing or operating illegal gaming devices, and prosecutors allege several had documented or recorded customer winnings and large amounts of cash.

Authorities seized 186 illegal gambling machines, and $140,000 in cash, according to Garden Grove police and prosecutors.

Several of the defendants pleaded not guilty and some had their arraignments rescheduled, according to a court clerk in Westminster. The court records were not immediately updated, so it was unclear which defendants entered pleas today.

The defendants are:

-- Thanh Van Nguyen, 43, of Santa Ana, owner of California Cafe, 10522 McFadden Ave.;

-- Anh Viet Quach, 34, of Westminster, manager of California Cafe;

-- Mandy Dung Nguyen, 26, of Stanton, owner of Cafe Xinh Xinh, 10548 Westminster Ave.;

-- No Thi La, 54, of Garden Grove, manager of Devang 3 Cafe, 10161 Westminster Ave.;

-- Hien Thanh Thi Nguyen, 41, Garden Grove, owner of Cafe Sao, 13576 Harbor Blvd.;

-- Mai Ngoc Nguyen, 22, of Westminster, co-manager of Missi Cafe, 13135 Brookhurst St.;

-- Huong Thanh Pham, 34, of Westminster, co-manager of Missi Cafe;

-- Uyen Tran, 38, of Orange, owner of GZ Cafe, 10130 Garden Grove Blvd.;

-- Kim Ahn Thi Lam, 53, of Garden Grove, manager of Cafe Taonhan, 10691 Westminster Ave.;

-- Tony Trong Do, 58, of Yorba Linda, owner of Miss Saigon Cafe, 10947 Westminster Ave.;

-- Phuong Thi Truc Nguyen, 38, of Westminster, manager of Skyy Cafe, 14331 Euclid St.;

-- Holly Nguyen, 24, of Garden Grove, employee of Cafe Gossip, 12176 Brookhurst St.;

-- Vickie Nguyen, 20, of Westminster, employee of Cafe Gossip;

-- Hanh Hong Le, 36, of Santa Ana, owner of Cafe Miss Cutie, 13959 Harbor Blvd.;

-- Thach Co Hoang, 28, of Garden Grove, manager of Passions Cafe, 12321 Westminster Blvd.;

-- Nina Trinh Dang, 42, of Westminster, owner of Cafe Di Vang 2, 14221 Euclid St.;

-- Quy Huu Tran, 61, of Santa Ana, manager of Cafe Eden Inc., 10900 Westminster Ave.;

-- Ngoc Ai Lu, 37, of Garden Grove, manager of Starz Cafe, 14241 Euclid St.; and

-- Thuy Cung Do, 38, of Garden Grove, owner of Cafe Chichi, 14282 Brookhurst St.

Source: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_18129157?source=rss

Kerry Suseck Eva Longoria Kate Groombridge Erica Leerhsen Carla Campbell