Local News in Brief : L.A. Man Arrested on Bookmaking Charge
A35-year-old man was arrested Thursday in a Van Nuys bookmaking operation that Los Angeles police said handled as much as $500,000 a week in bets.
Michael Richardson, 35, of downtown Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of bookmaking at an apartment in the 7400 block of Sepulveda Boulevard, said Police Sgt. Steve Allen of the Van Nuys Division. Richardson was released from the Van Nuys Jail after posting $500 bail, authorities said.
Allen described Richardson as a small player in a larger statewide operation. He said that an investigation is continuing and that others connected with the gambling ring are being sought.
An anonymous caller tipped police to the operation a week ago, Allen said. The man, who told police his son had lost $14,000 to bookmakers, supplied them with information that led to Richardson’s arrest, Allen said.
Police also seized telephone recording equipment and a personal computer with the names of clients, Allen said.
While police monitored telephones in the apartment for a five-minute period during the arrest, $1,000 in bets on football games were called in.
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