Alleged Sports Bookie Center Raided; 6 Held

Six men were arrested Saturday on charges stemming from what authorities said was a $500,000-a-week horse racing and sports bookmaking operation.

Sheriff’s deputies said the operation, headquartered in the 1900 block of Santa Fe Avenue, employed up to 20 people and used phone banks with 10 incoming lines and a toll-free number.

Arrested were Kale Kalustian, 54, of Granada Hills; George Eastman, 44, of Pomona; Douglas Dimoch, 40, of Northridge; Ronald LaForgia, 34, of Studio City; George Fisher, 46, of Garden Grove and Vincent Artale, 45, of Mission Viejo.