Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
- Salt Lake cafe owner Ryan Delahuerta was arrested and accused of running gambling operations.
- Police said they seized over $56,000, guns, gambling machines and drugs from two business locations.
SALT LAKE CITY — The owner of a Salt Lake internet cafe has been arrested and accused of various crimes, including running a gambling operation.
Ryan Jovon Delahuerta, 42, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Tuesday for investigation of gambling promotion, having a gambling device, allowing gambling and for having fringe gaming devices.
Delahuerta is the owner of MyPodZzz, 1480 S. State, as well as other businesses in Salt Lake County.
Salt Lake police on Tuesday served search warrants at MyPodZzz and at Urban Pawn, 4791 S. State, following what police are calling an "extensive undercover operation." Detectives seized more than $56,000 in cash, guns, gambling machines and drugs in total from both locations.
Investigators believe that illegal gambling was taking place at My PodZzz and proceeds were allegedly being funneled to Urban Pawn. Undercover officers went into MyPodZzz "and played what is commonly known as the 'fish game,' which appeared to be a game of a chance as money/cash is inserted into a machine and your money turns into 'credit' to a proportionate amount to the money inserted," a police booking affidavit states. "While playing the 'fish game,' detectives' credits went higher than the amount inserted into the machine, and the detective requested to 'cash out' or 'redeem' their money."
"Alleged illegal gambling operations like this don't just violate the law, they create environments where other criminal activity thrives," said Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown. "This investigation is the result of a tremendous team effort of our Special Investigation Unit, and I want to recognize the hard work of our detectives, collateral officers, SWAT officers, patrol officers."
More than $48,000 was seized at Urban Pawn alone, police said. Investigators reported seizing two handguns, three gambling machines and drugs including fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and marijuana products at MyPodZzz.
"This investigation and the enforcement action our detectives have taken should send a clear message to those in our community who think they can operate criminal activities under the guise of legitimate businesses, we will not tolerate any activity that fuels crime and erodes public trust," Brown said.
The chief says the area area around 1480 S. State has been a "hot spot" for crime over the past six months, including multiple aggravated assaults, robberies, and burglaries, as well as threats, stalking and larceny.
"Notably, 1470 S. State Street has been the site of two separate robberies and an aggravated assault, while 1480 S. State Street saw another aggravated assault," police said. One of those aggravated assaults at 1470 S. State was a stabbing on Jan. 16 that resulted in criminal charges against Nathaniel David Ferguson.
Police say additional arrests and charges were pending as of Wednesday.
