11 Arrested on Bookmaking Counts

Ten men and one woman were arrested Thursday when sheriff’s vice detectives served 16 search warrants at suspected bookmaking operations in Los Angeles and Orange counties that investigators believe took in more than $500,000 a day.

Only 10 of the sites were doing business when the detectives, in a joint operation with Internal Revenue Service agents, simultaneously raided the homes and one business, Deputy Hal Grant said.

The authorities seized a 1980 Audi, a 1979 Mercedes 450SL and a 1987 BMW 325i, and $60,000 cash, Grant said.

Also confiscated was bookmaking equipment, such as computers with printers, cellular telephones and answering machines, Sheriff’s Lt. Curtis Spears said.

Spears said the daily profits from all 10 locations--in Cerritos, Downey, Hermosa Beach, Orange, Paramount, San Gabriel, Sherman Oaks, Whittier and two sites in Santa Monica--was at least $500,000.

The alleged bookmakers operated out of nine private homes and one unmarked suite in an office building, placing bets predominantly on baseball and basketball games and horse races, Spears said. The suspects were jailed in lieu of bail ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, Grant said.