16 charged in sweeping Houston-based multimillion-dollar illegal gambling and money laundering conspiracy
A massive law enforcement operation in the Southern District of Texas, dubbed "Operation Double Down," has led to the arrest of multiple Houston-area residents and the seizure of more than $16 million in cash, accounts, and assets. U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei described it as one of the largest operations of its kind in the region, targeting a network accused of conspiracy, illegal gambling, bribery, and money laundering.
The suspects are slated to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Christina Bryan at 2 p.m. for their initial court hearings.
On April 2, authorities also apprehended 31 illegal aliens during the operation, charging them with immigration and firearms violations. Among them was an individual accused of assaulting a law enforcement officer.
The indictment, filed on March 26 and unsealed following the arrests, names Nizar Ali, 61, of Richmond, as a key figure. Ali and his co-conspirators allegedly ran or supported illegal game rooms and laundered over $22 million in profits to hide their origins, according to the charges.
The operation involved over 700 officers from 18 agencies, executing 45 search warrants and 40 seizure warrants across Houston and nearby areas. Targets included 30 illegal game rooms, such as El Portal and Yellow Building. Authorities seized $4.5 million in cash, $5 million in property and vehicles, 2,000 slot machines, 100 Rolex watches, and eight firearms. An additional $6.5 million was confiscated from bank accounts and financial institutions under court orders.
Alongside Nizar Ali, those arrested include Naeem Ali, 33, and Amer Khan, 68, both of Richmond; Ishan Dhuka, 33, and Sahil Karovalia, 32, both of Rosenberg; Sarfarez Maredia, 38, and Shoaib Maredia, 40, both of Sugar Land; Yolanda Figueroa, 40, of Pasadena; Viviana Alvarado, 45, of LaPorte; and Anabel Eloisa Guevarra, 46, Precela Solis, 27, Maria Delarosa, 53, Claudia Calderon, 37, and Lucia Hernandez, 34, all of Houston.
Two suspects, Sayed Ali, 59, of Richmond, and Stephanie Huerta, 35, of Houston, remain at large, with active warrants for their arrest.
The group faces charges including conspiracy, operating an illegal gambling business, and interstate travel in aid of racketeering—each carrying up to five years in prison—as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering, which could result in a 20-year sentence. Nizar Ali also faces 32 counts of federal program bribery for allegedly paying over $500,000 to an undercover officer to shield the game rooms from law enforcement, with each count carrying a potential 10-year term.
Fines could reach $250,000 per count, except for the money laundering charge, which may incur a penalty of up to $500,000 or twice the value of the involved property.
The investigation was spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) and IRS Criminal Investigation (CI), with support from the Houston Police Department (HPD), FBI, and numerous other federal, state, and local agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, Customs and Border Protection, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys S. Mark McIntyre, John Marck, and Carolyn Ferko are prosecuting, while Brandon Fyffe and Tyler Foster are overseeing asset seizure and forfeiture.
An indictment is an accusation, not proof of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law