4 Arrested In Illegal Game Room Operation In South Houston: Cops

HOUSTON — Four people were arrested on felony money laundering charges after deputy constables raided a game room known for illegal activity, officials said.

Deputy constables converged on the Tejas Game Room, located in the 1500 block of College Avenue, in the City of South Houston on Tuesday morning, police said.

Deputies arrested Aracely Gonzalez, 32, Sammy Phipps, 31, Moises Mendez, 44, and Vimalkumar Shirolawala, 43, and charged each with money laundering, and arrested a fifth person on an unrelated charge, police said.

Harris County Pct. 1 Constable Alan Rosen said deputies have raided the Tejas Game Room four times within the last year, shutting down the business each time.

"This is a game room that steals from people on fixed incomes," Rosen said. "We're taking it very serious. We're tired of this. I think the public is tired of this."

Meanwhile, investigators are still looking to arrest three other felony money laundering suspects. Police have identified the three men as Mehulkumar Rana, 38, Bhavesh Joshi, 31, and Gauravkumar Patel, 29.

Investigators said Rana is believed to be the owner of the illegal game room, police said. Investigators say the game room was netting $60,000-100,000 per night.

Anyone with information on the three suspects is asked to contact Harris County Precinct One Constable's Dispatch at (713) 755-7618.