Illegal Activity in Bingo Hall and Game Rooms Lead to 12 Arrested in Houston

Harris County authorities cut off an alleged crime ring and gambling organization at five game rooms and the local Paradise Bingo Hall. Not only did police arrest 12 people, they also found a bunker full of money, guns, and provisions.

The Houston Chronicle quotes Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson as saying, “There was a bunker here; it may be something more Doomsdayish. Every weapon will be looked at, every serial number run to see if they were stolen or used in any other crimes.”

Lt. Ruben Diaz added, “It was enough to start a small war in this area if they wanted to. They were pretty scary to have in this building.”

Finding the bunker and the people who were involved in illegal gambling took about a year of surveillance and undercover work. Their illegal gambling resulted in millions of dollars. They used illegal gambling machines at the bingo/gaming locations and then filled ATMs with the illegally acquired money.

Paradise Bingo Hall is closed for now, leaving many who visited just to play a simple game of bingo to wonder what was going on behind closed doors while they marked their cards with a colorful dauber.