Carson Church’s Bingo Operation Is Investigated

Carson officials are scrutinizing the operations of a local Samoan church for possibly violating the city’s so-called bingo ordinance by paying workers to run a $1-million-a-year bingo operation.

The investigation of the United Samoan Congregational Christian Church of the South Bay, once the largest Samoan congregation in the city, comes as the church has been embroiled in a bitter leadership fight, partly attributed to the church’s handling of bingo revenues.

For their part, Carson city officials are awaiting a determination from Assistant City Atty. Michele Bagneris on whether the church is guilty of a misdemeanor violation by paying workers up to $200 a month to run the twice-a-week games.

Under Carson’s Municipal Code, only volunteers are allowed to work the bingo games.

Attempts to reach church leaders for comment this week were unsuccessful. However, Myron Thompson, a former acting church president who is suing the United Samoan Congregational Christian Church to regain his leadership position, said church authorities have said in court papers that bingo workers are being paid.

Thompson has filed a civil suit in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging that the church improperly terminated him as acting church president two years ago in a dispute over the handling of bingo revenues. Thompson said he forwarded court depositions from the case to the city.

Bagneris is also looking into allegations that the church is no longer a tax-exempt religious organization because it has ended its affiliation with its parent denomination, the United Church of Christ Southern California Conference. Without that status, the church may not be permitted to run the games, Bagneris said.

The church dispute comes at a time when Carson has stepped up its enforcement of bingo regulations for the city’s 17 licensed operators. Last month, responding to a series of complaints, the City Council directed its code enforcement and revenue divisions to more closely monitor bingo games.

City officials met with the licensed bingo operators Thursday to review city regulations, Finance Director Lorraine Oten said.

“We are putting them on notice,” Oten said.

If the church is found in violation of the ordinance, it could have its bingo license suspended, Bagneris said.

Drafted in 1978 as a fund-raising mechanism for local churches, charitable and nonprofit organizations and clubs, the ordinance has been a constant source of controversy in the city. Over the years, as the number of bingo operators and proceeds increased, so did complaints, city officials said.

The United Samoan Congregational Christian Church, located on East Carson Street, holds bingo games every Wednesday and Friday nights. Proceeds from the game make up more than 90% of the church’s annual budget.

Founded in 1972 by John Thompson, Myron Thompson’s father, the church grew to about 1,000 members--the largest of more than a dozen Samoan churches in Carson--until the dispute between Thompson and other church leaders in 1989. Current membership is between 300 and 400.