TAMPA, Fla. – Three suspects are behind bars after police said they busted an illegal gambling house in Tampa on Sunday. 

The Tampa Police Department said its street anti-crimes squad, SWAT team, K9 unit, and bomb squad arrested the three suspects, who are accused of operating an illegal gambling house out of All Stars Tampa Domino Club in the 2300 block of West Waters Avenue. Those suspects have been identified by investigators as Marcelino Perez, 67; Charlie Parilla, 32; and Kendrick Franklin, 29. 

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Timeline:

TPD said authorities were made aware of the illegal gambling house back in December 2023. That’s when undercover officers visited the business and placed a multitude of bets throughout the entire year of 2024, according to the police department. 

During their investigation, Tampa police said they found the business operated seven days a week, and Perez, Parilla and Franklin were all found to be connected to the illegal gambling house’s operation. They also learned that the operation created a pattern of racketeering, because it operated every day and focused on placing illegal sports bets, TPD said. 

Officers said they seized numerous computers, receipts used for illegal gambling, more than $12,000 and a semi-automatic pistol after serving a search warrant on Sunday. After that, Perez, Parilla and Franklin were all taken into custody. 

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What they’re saying:

“The success of this operation is a testament to the tireless work and attention to detail shown by our officers,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “To anyone thinking about running an illegal gambling operation in Tampa, consider this your warning.”

Big picture view:

According to investigators, the three suspects are facing the following charges: 

1. Perez – one felony count of conspiracy to bookmake, one felony count of RICO violation and one misdemeanor count of agent or employee of keeping a gambling house.
2. Franklin – Two felony counts of betting on results of trial or contest of skill, one felony count of bookmaking, one felony count for RICO violation and one misdemeanor count for agent or employee of keeping a gambling house.
3. Parilla – Four felony counts of betting on the results of a trial or contest skill, one felony count of bookmaking, one felony count for RICO violation and one misdemeanor count of agent or employee of keeping a gambling house.

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