Illegal Gambling Operation Now Defunct in Ballpark after SLCPD Bust

The Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) has moved in to clamp down on another illegal gambling operation, which has been rendered defunct by law enforcement as a result of investigation and follow-up enforcement action.

Police Has Suspect in Custody, Tied to Ownership of Locations

Two venues were raided in the Ballpark neighborhood. Both were tied to one suspect, Ryan Delahuerta, 42, who has already been taken into custody and is facing illegal gambling-related charges. The first venue owned by the suspect, the police said, was located at 1480 South and State Street.

Police were also able to seize various assets associated with the illegal gambling venue, such as gambling machines, $56,000 in cash, firearms, and drugs across two locations owned by the suspect. In a statement detailing the case, SLCPD chief Mike Brown outlined the operation as well the importance for the community of shuttering the illegal venue:

The Ballpark community has been dealing with the negative impacts of this alleged criminal operation for weeks. I hope there is an immediate impact following this search warrant that will help return a sense of community and safety to the Ballpark neighborhood.

SLCPD

The surrounding areas have been seeing an increase in petty and more serious crime over the past months, the police said, citing cases of aggravated assault, burglaries, and robberies, among others. Chief Brown was particularly vociferous about the link between illegal gambling venues and the ensuring crime they beget in local communities, arguing:

“Alleged illegal gambling operations like this don’t just violate the law, they create environments where other criminal activity can thrive.”

The Illegal Gambling Business Ran from Two Locations

The gambling operation that was shuttered was supposedly run from two locations. The first one was “My Podzzz” where the actual gambling appeared to take place.

Delahuerta also owned a pawn shop by the name of “Urban Pawn” at 4791 South State Street in Murray. Urban Pawn was supposedly handling the money for My Podzzz and possibly obfuscating their alleged ill origins.

That is why the bulk of the money was discovered in Urban Pawn, where police seized $48,000 compared to just $8,000 at My Podzzz. An employee associated with the My Podzzz business was similarly detained but no charges are being brought against them for the time being.

A total of 28 patrons or people who were inside the location of My Podzzz were also detained and questioned by the police.