5 Arrested in Alleged Casino-Style Operation

Charges are to be filed today against five people arrested in a weekend raid at an alleged casino-style gambling operation in a leased Manhattan Beach home, authorities said Monday. Four were arrested for suspicion of gambling and the fifth on suspicion of cocaine possession.

Manhattan Beach Police Sgt. Dale Reissig said 38 people were in the Rowell Avenue house when it was raided early Saturday. Police said they confiscated equipment for craps, blackjack, poker and billiards.

Reissig said the alleged operators of the casino, William Moritz, 53, of Los Angeles, and Billy Ray Meacham, 52, of San Juan Capistrano were arrested on two gambling-related charges and for selling liquor without a license. Nanci Nowicki,29, of Torrance, an alleged dealer, and Roxane Elliott, 28, of Hawthorne, who was allegedly tending bar, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit gambling. Barbara Hamei, 26, of Hawthorne, was arrested on the drug charge.