Police Free 17 Bookmaking Suspects, but Inquiry Continues

Seventeen suspects in an alleged major sports bookmaking operation were freed from custody Wednesday when authorities said they needed time to review evidence seized in the case before deciding whether to charge them.

Authorities stressed that they plan to file charges of conspiracy to commit bookmaking against some of the suspects, including an alleged ringleader from Granada Hills, but that they need time to review computer records and other seized evidence. Authorities must charge defendants within 48 hours of arrest, or let them go.

“We have evidence from 22 locations. It is very tedious and time-consuming,” said Lt. David Kading of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Bureau, vice detail. “It’s like a jigsaw puzzle with a million pieces to it.”

Kading said the suspects are not considered flight risks, and they probably will be asked to surrender to authorities at a later date.

The suspects were part of Southern California’s largest illegal sports bookmaking operation in recent years, according to authorities who swept through five counties Monday, arresting 17 people believed to be involved in an enterprise netting $5 million a month.

Among those arrested were Kale Kalustian, 65, of Granada Hills, the alleged head of the ring, and two top aides, Walter Miller, 55, also of Granada Hills, and Ron LaForgia, 42, of Thousand Oaks, authorities said.

“Charges will be filed, certainly,

against some people,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Montagna, head of the organized crime unit of the district attorney’s office. “We are just trying to put the case together.”

None of the suspects could be reached for comment.