LAPD Busts Shell Game on Los Angeles Street
Ed Fuentes
File photo from 2006 shows a shell game taking place on Broadway.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Police officers from Central Division this weekend busted a shell game ring operating on Los Angeles street. In a press release sent out today, Lieutenant Paul Vernon warned those who live and shop Downtown to steer clear of the slight-of-hand games.
“Any shopper who thinks they can parlay gift money into a big wad of cash is going to be sadly disappointed,” said Vernon, who is in charge of detective operations for Central Division. “No one ever wins in a shell game, and what’s worse, much of the money lost goes right into the pockets of gang members who tax the gambling rings.”
Officers on Saturday arrested eight individuals, booking them on charges of felony conspiracy and illegal gambling. The seven men and one woman ranged from 27 to 67 years old.
A typical shell game requires the player to pick which of three shells hides a ball after their positions have been shuffled. A simple concept, but Vernon warns that the games are fixed.
“That’s the hook,” said Vernon. “It looks so easy --- guess where the ball is --- but the tosser uses slight-of-hand to hide the ball. You’ll never find it.”
Rich Alossi on December 08, 2009, at 10:17PM – #1
Great, now can they do something about the open-air stolen goods market at 6th and Los Angeles (6th Street side) during the day, or the (also open-air) drug bazaar at night at that same intersection?
No? Okay then.
Oscar on December 09, 2009, at 01:19AM – #2
hahaha... Rich...
Brian on December 09, 2009, at 08:45AM – #3
I continued to be amazed at the 'crime fighting' that occurs in LA.
Open selling and use of drugs on the sidewalk? Not a problem.
The stolen goods Rich mentioned? Keep on selling.
Jaywalking The motorcycle cop will chase you down like a murder suspect.
I appreciate all the work the LAPD does and I am sure they do so many things that don't get nearly enough press. However, it things like this still baffle me.
Jasmijn on December 09, 2009, at 10:49AM – #4
I'm mildly surprised to see this story: I thought shell games went out with spittoons. I guess LA's an old-fashioned city at heart after all!
Lt. Paul Vernon on December 09, 2009, at 04:24PM – #5
I realize that some folks might not understand how arresting a gambling ring like this is important...
These gambling rings are a source of income for gang members who either run the rings, or tax the rings for allowing them to operate.
What's worse, the crowds that gather, cash in hand, are an easy target for robbers who snatch the money right out of victims' hands.
Whenever these gambling games get prevalent, robberies go up. Worse again, we've had two near-fatal stabbing by gang members against drug dealers who did not pay their taxes to the gang.
The more pressure we (the PD) can put on all sides of this crime issue (victims, low-level criminals, location, and higher-level criminals) the more sustained the 35+% crime reduction will stay downtown.
Let me add, a part of making this bust so public is to warn the local residents and shoppers...Don't be a victim and don't patronize these operations.
Oh, regarding the drug sales, while there are 21 narcotics units in LAPD, one for each police station, Central's unit makes one-fifth (20%) of the arrests for street narcotics violations in the city. That volume is, unfortunately, a symptom of the narcotics demand associated with nearby skid row.
Lt. Paul Vernon,
Central Police Station (downtown)
Eric on December 09, 2009, at 04:52PM – #6
Lt. Paul Vernon-
I think it's great that you commented here. I think we all understand why "arresting a gambling ring like this is important" but as the people who live and work in this area, we see everyday what crime effects our day to day lives. I get it that the money from gambling goes to gangs and that gangs are bad but I personally see other things that are a hell of a lot more common. From the drug corners that Rich mentioned to me almost getting run over multiple times a day by busses and cars running red lights. I walk to work from South Park to the Fashion Dist and at least 3 times encounter a city bus that feels they do not have to stop for red lights. I have yet to see anyone pulled over for this. What I do see weekly are pedestrians being treated like criminals for so called "jaywalking". I will always cross at an intersection when no cars are coming than risk being hit from one running a red light. And it's not only the local bike officers that target pedestrians but police in cars. Just once I would like to see a cop pull over a city bus for something that is clearly dangerous and illegal. It wouldn't be hard to find. Sit on the corner of 9th and Grand 5 minutes, you will see it happen 5 times.
Again, thank you for taking the time to comment but please also listen to what we see everyday.
Eric
Pet Project on December 09, 2009, at 05:17PM – #7
Eric, I totally agree with you on the dangerous sport of crossing the street here in Downtown. Those busses just push the pedal to the metal and honk the horn as they blaze through a FULLY red light. Obviously not a worry in the world. Once you see the end result of a city bus vs. a small car, you will never forget it. The car never wins.
I see people getting cited all over DT for crossing the street against the light - yet a guy in a wheelchair in the middle of the street with his hat out asking for change from passing motorists gets nary a sidewards glance from a patrol car. YES, I've witnessed this many, many times. I totally support our police department and understand they are under staffed, under paid and all of that, and I realize that the guy in the wheelchair isn't a revenue generating lawbreaker so he gets ignored for causing a dangerous situation, however I - who have braved the streets of NY, Sydney, Paris, etc., and survived to talk about it - will get a ticket for running across Main Street when it's empty of traffic.
It just seems a bit lopsided to me.
Brian on December 09, 2009, at 05:25PM – #8
I really appreciate Lt. Vernon taking the time to comment - thanks very much!
I agree with the last two posts on the topic of buses and cars running red lights. I am truly surprised there are not more accidents in the area because of this trend of running red lights.
Back to the LT's post - I certainly understand the logic of gangs profiting from the games and robberies and such being a byproduct of the activity. I agree with my fellow posters though - many residents aren't trying to be cynical but I guess we just see so much blatant crime each day involving drugs and other things that the general public like us just wishes we can crack down on those things.
I'm not up to speed on the legality of taser sales but twice in the last couple weeks I've seen tests and sales going down in South Park. You see that, and you see open drug deals and you can't help but wonder why the jaywalker is getting reamed out and this other stuff goes on.
Having said all that, I still appreciate all the work the LAPD does in what often times is a thankless job.
Lt Paul Vernon on December 10, 2009, at 10:49AM – #9
All valid points we (the PD) are aware of and working on everyday. More and more everyday, we get text tips into the PD. I encourage you to send us tips on drug dealing and other crime information. We really do act on them.
I will pass you observations along to the traffic division, so the captain there can hear your concern. One point about pedestrians, enforcing the jaywalking laws truly saves lives! When it's a car vs a person, the person always loses. And many drivers drive aggressively out of frustration due to gridlock from pedestrians not wanting to wait their turn to cross on the WALK sign.
I drive and walk the DT streets and I see both sides that way. Happy Holidays.
Matt B on December 10, 2009, at 03:35PM – #10
To Lt. Vernon,
I used to live at the Judson on 4th and Broadway, and I frequently saw the shell guys running their scam literally right outside their front door. I was outraged and my wife and I considered calling LAPD, but these guys were crafty. They used lookouts and always quickly dispersed at the first sign of police or even the unarmed downtown security guys on bikes. I for one am very grateful these guys have been busted. Great work! And as someone who works in the film industry, I'd love to see you guys get the all the mom-and-pop stores on Broadway selling pirated DVDs next.
Best regards, Matt
Juan on December 10, 2009, at 11:48PM – #11
The cops are placed in a bad position. Stop the rings because there is enough probable cause for an arrest, then the dealers will have to find another way to make money (and probably still pay gangsters so they can sleep/walk the streets without getting stabbed). Unfortunately, their next way of making a living will probably not be done in the open. Is their a middle ground? Will the police make an arrest for fraud or gambling if the dealer places a noticeable sign?
DEALER WILL USE MAGIC TO FOOL YOU. YOU MAY LOSE YOUR MONEY!
Lol. Seriously, I would hope that some of these arrests have led to convictions for more serious crimes, like gang narcotics and arms trafficking, violence, etc.
I don't see a problem with crowds forming, even with money in hand ($ in hand to gamble, not a good fact). Downtown LA is about crowds--we are slowly regaining a good reputation for hosting big events, I expect our cops to be trained to deal with crowds of all sizes (Final Consent Decree, P32).
People shouldn't walk or stand with money in their hand for more than a couple seconds. In a small town, that shouldn't be a problem....it's a work in progress in downtown, as Lt. Vernon stated. I hope the pressure being applied from all sides is effective.
Last 2 cents: pedestrians at intersections should be cited and fined to stand and watch that intersection for 1 hour (and hand out notices to other violators? hahaha!) Bus drivers--pulled over and warned that you are cutting it close to being unsafe.
FISH on December 11, 2009, at 01:45PM – #12
Funny that Eric brought up the "rogue" buses. I witnessed a speeding Metro bus cruising down Hill last night on my drive home. I couldn't believe how fast this idiot was driving.
Oscar on December 12, 2009, at 02:01AM – #13
I agree with the "Buses" topic, I've seen a bus before run over a red light and absoliutely trash a 4 door sedan. It was ABSOLUTELY obvious that the driver ran the red ligh, the passengers saw it and I saw it, and even so the MTA was willing to fight it in court, why not use that money they were gong to spend on legal fees to run a campaign to convince drivers to STOP RUNNING RED LIGHTS!
6th and Spring is another intersection where it happens ALL the time.
About the "shell" ring, I've been seeing those guys for years, but as someone else commented, I knew it was hard for the police to catch them because they have "flags" so you need a special operation with "plainclothes" and other tactics. Luckily for us the 5 officers (joke- but not really) from vice/narcotics work very heavily in the area.
And finally PLEASE DO ticket the people that "jaywalk" in heavy traffic, specially those that run in the last second trying to "beat" the hand... But also PLEASE out of courtesy to the "new" residents be a little lax when we are crossing Main street at 1am with no traffic... (and yes that is ONLY and example I have never got a "jaywalk" ticket)
C. Martinez on December 14, 2009, at 05:43PM – #14
Neighborhood policing at its very best: Lt. Paul Vernon
C. Martinez
Noe on December 14, 2009, at 06:28PM – #15
Shells games are 1) worth busting and 2) worth reporting on?
Priorities.
ethan on December 15, 2009, at 08:48PM – #16
While understandably illegal, it's worth considering that this -- one of the oldest cons there is -- has probably been going on in downtown LA for at least a hundred years, if not longer.
It's a bit creaky and quaint, as crimes go. I'm almost fond of it popping up now and again.