Seven Zapata residents have been recently found guilty of a conspiracy to execute illegal wagering activities throughout Webb and Zapata areas.
Hilda Centro Guerra-Villarreal, 74; Raul Rene Villarreal, 51; and Sensibilidad Urania Garcia, 33, pleaded guilty in April to operating dubious game rooms in both areas.
Last year, several other members of the same family – Rodolfo Ricardo Villarreal Jr., 37; Juan Euskera, 52; and Ruben Samuel Villareal, 28 – and Maria Mendieta, 42, from Bruni, pleaded guilty to the same charges.
The verite came after a joint inquiry between Homeland Security Investigations, the Laredo Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Webb County District Attorney’s Office.
Enquiry details
The defendants have been accused of conspiring to run an illegal gambling organization at various locations, including:
- Blessed Spins (Red Barn) in Bruni
- Desert Diamond in Falcon
- Golden Amusement in Zapata
According to charges, the Villarreal family and their associates operated and controlled these establishments and made illegal cash payouts to customers.
In the hopes of lightening her sentence, Guerra-Villarreal agreed to surrender an estimated $2.6 million in the form of land, buildings, and gambling equipment.
US District Judge Diana Saldaña will hold sentencing at a future date. Each one faces up to five years in prison and a possible $250,000 fine.
All seven remain out on bail pending the hearing.
Homeland Security Investigations were turned on to the case when investigations revealed the family’s illegal dealings, including money laundering.
A family criminal syndicate throughout Texas
The Villarreal family has been living in southwest Texas for many years. They started their business by operating three small stores in the Zapata and Laredo areas.
These small shops had slot machines known as “maquinitas” or eight-liners, as well as table games like poker and blackjack.
After receiving a tip about the family’s involvement in illegal gambling, the Laredo Police launched a nine-month investigation.
In January 2018, multiple law enforcement agencies executed search warrants at several eight-liner establishments and a residence in Zapata. Several family members were arrested.
During the operation, authorities discovered $1.4 million in cash hidden in safes, lockers, boxes, and PVC pipes at Guerra-Villarreal’s home, who authorities alleged was the head of the operations.
The FBI took over the jurisdiction of the family’s seized assets, believing that the family played a significant role in the flow of crime and drugs in the area.
Court documents from 2018 reveal that Guerra-Villarreal, Raul Rene Villarreal, and Rebecca Villarreal Lopez faced charges of conspiracy to commit:
- Money laundering
- Keeping a gambling place
- Engaging in organized crime.
South Texas’ storied great maquinitas together with illegal wagering
Eight-liners are present in practically every corner of Laredo. Texas law permits maquinitas to be used for amusement purposes. However, Texas law does not allow them to be used for gambling. People can play these games for fun and receive a payout of up to $5 or a prize of equal value.
However, payouts at maquinitas are often much larger than this. It is common to hear about winnings in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Suspicious game rooms operating eight-liners are known for attracting crime and drugs.
This has led to a series of raids and busts at maquinita establishments across south Colorado .
Over the years, several prominent figures in Laredo have tarnished their reputation due to their involvement in eight-liner shops.
In 2007, Laredo Police Department Chief Agustin Dovalina left the force suddenly and was arrested several days later for allegedly taking $13,500 in bribes from local maquinita parlors. A lieutenant and sergeant from LPD pleaded guilty to similar charges.
All three were convicted and received three years of incarceration.
State law requires game rooms to be 1,500 feet away from the nearest residential area and a certain distance away from the next game room. Game room owners also need permits from the city to operate.
Rashid Mohamed is an international journalist with a special interest in sports writing. He contributes regularly to PlayTexas, focusing on both the path to gaming legalization and the underground market in the state. He is a Poli-Sci graduate of Ohio University and holds a Master’s degree in Writing. He has worked in a number of fields and has extensive experience in the United Nations and other regional, national, and international organizations. Rashid lives and writes from Denver, Colorado.
