9 Accused of Running Illegal Sports Bookmaking Ring

Nine people have been arrested in a Westside operation that allegedly took sports bets and told gamblers they were using a legal offshore system, police said.

“You’d pick up the phone and you’re under the understanding that you’re calling somewhere” such as Jamaica or the Bahamas that offers licensed bookmaking, said Los Angeles Police Sgt. Mark Arneson of Pacific Division’s vice unit.

“In actuality, from what we’ve seen, their impression of overseas was Marina del Rey, Santa Monica and Venice, and that doesn’t count,” he said.

Search warrants were served last week at 13 locations in those areas. Arneson said the four-month investigation culminated in the seizure of more than 500 pieces of evidence, including more than $570,000 in cash, computer equipment and records.

Of the nine people arrested, eight were charged last week with felony counts.

Eric Portocarrero, 31, Joseph Barrios, 35, Charles Edward Sullivan, 29, Matthew Charles Gilman, 26, and Amir Mokayef, 25, were each charged with one count of bookmaking and one count of maintaining a bookmaking place, said Sandi Gibbons, spokeswoman for the district attorney’s office. They were released on $20,000 bail each.

Alpha Mohamed Berry, 40, is being held on one count of sale of a controlled substance and one count of bookmaking, the D.A.’s office said.

Barry Landry, 31, was charged with one count of permitting bookmaking and released on $20,000 bail.

Bert Wohfeld, 74, was arraigned on one count of bookmaking, Arneson said.

Valerie Smith, 24, was arrested on suspicion of a misdemeanor charge, he said.