A Sheriff’s truck loaded with computer monitors
seized from the Boom Town Internet Café in
Yucca Valley.
The last known illegal online gambling café in Yucca Valley was shut down yesterday following a joint raid by the Sheriff’s department and the California Department of Justice. Boom Town Internet Café, in a strip mall in the Vons shopping center, had been under investigation for illegal gambling activities for a couple of months. Sheriff’s Detective Dan Helmick said undercover officers had gone into the business earlier and played slots, Keno, and online card games. About 13 patrons were inside the business at the time of the raid. “They were using the computer stations. Once we entered and made contact with the manager, we asked everybody to step back from the monitors. What I observed when we did that, there was some of these gaming stations that had slot machines on the screen at the time.” No arrests were made at the time of the raid. Deputies seized 31 computers and about $3,800 in cash. Helmick said once detectives determine who the owner of the business is, he or she will likely face charges of possession of gaming equipment. Town officials were pleased to hear about the raid.
Deputy Town Manager Shane Stueckle said gaming establishments attract the wrong crowd. “Gaming establishments tend to bring certain characteristics that are not always desirable. The state has laws that regulate the location and the type of gaming facilities, and if this is one that does not conform to those types of laws, it should not be here.” Yucca Valley Mayor Merl Abel agreed and gave a pat on the back to the Sheriff’s Department. “It’s very unfortunate that happened in our community, but I’m glad the alleged culprits have perhaps been shut down and our community can be better because of it, so congratulations to our Sheriff’s Department.”
