29, would be the 10th such takedown for Parsekhian. Bob Schlesinger, who commands gang investigators in the Valley. “And then when we know there’s a lot of criminal activity around there - there might be a casino.” “Patrolling officers might see activity at a place with no sign, no apparent reason to see a lot of people going in and out,” said Lt. LAPD officers keep on the lookout for telltale signs.

In another incident that year, bullets from a shooting at a casino in North Hollywood lodged inside the home of a woman nearby. In 2018, one dispute at a Van Nuys casino near Ventura Boulevard led to a shootout between two friends that left one man dead. Police have long rooted out these locations, but in recent years have “increased the urgency” to take down as many of them as they can, Evans said.

“We believe the money is being funneled to Ukraine,” Evans said. At least some of the money ends up with the gang’s international backers, police say. Sometimes, the proceeds can go to local gangs, who answer to Mexican Mafia bosses operating inside Los Angeles County’s jail system. “It’s a game of skill, but it’s basically just betting,” Evans said. In this particular gambling operation, Evans said, what likely drew in customers was the “fish game” - players gather around an arcade-looking game, with a screen on top and bet on their ability to shoot fish at a target by pushing buttons. Marc Evans, the vice coordinator for the Valley Division. “Drugs, guns, prostitution - it’s just a crime den,” said Lt. Inside, accused gang members often provide patrons a variety of services. Just one location can pull in tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit each month. Police say they believe the people who frequent these establishments often commit petty crimes for money to buy drugs, or to continue playing poker or video slot machines. Local police commanders said they can almost spot these locations just from the pattern of crime that surrounds them - shoplifting, thefts from vehicles, armed robberies and assaults. California police must tell drivers why they’re being stopped starting next year under new law

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