HILO — Police said Wednesday the gambling busts in Hilo, Kona, Waimea and Honokaa, which include The Cave, Winner’z Zone and Player’s Choice, netted about $150,000 in cash and resulted in the confiscation of 124 gambling machines.
Three people were arrested on suspicion of gambling. They are 30-year-old Justin D. Alpert and 22-year-old Brenda K. Reynolds of Kailua-Kona, who were both arrested in Kona, and 36-year-old Rodney K. Worley of Honokaa, who was arrested in Waimea.
All three were released pending further investigation, police said.
Two Hilo gaming establishments raided Tuesday by local and federal authorities were previously raided by law enforcement.
Reel Fun Amusements was the subject of a March 2, 2012, raid when it was located at 288 Kilauea Ave. Its owner, Sergio Cabal, and his wife, Ruth, were arrested as a result.
A Kona gaming room also owned by Cabal was raided on the same day, and Cabal and an employee, Aaron Hiraishi, were arrested.
Sergio Cabal pleaded guilty on June 24, 2014, to five misdemeanor gambling charges and was fined $2,000. Kona District Court Judge Diana Van De Car granted Cabal’s request for a deferral of his plea, and his conviction was erased on May 26, 2015, according to court records.
Court records state Ruth Cabal pleaded guilty on June 26, 2014, to two misdemeanor gambling charges and was fined $500. Van De Car also granted her a plea deferral, and the conviction was erased June 10, 2015.
Hiraishi pleaded guilty to three misdemeanor gambling charges on June 26, 2014, and also was fined $500. Van De Car granted his plea deferral, as well, and his conviction was erased on May 22, 2015.
Reel Fun reopened in the Waiakea Villas business complex and was raided again Tuesday. No arrests were made there.
Triple 7 Amusement on Manono Street was raided by authorities on July 20, 2012, when it was known as 777 Arcade.
Its owner, Lance Yamada, of Hilo, was arrested at that time on suspicion of promoting gambling. He was not charged, according to court records.
Triple 7 also was raided Tuesday. No arrests were made, but a police log indicates a possible forfeiture action may have been initiated.
A search of the state Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs shows Triple 7 is owned by LY20 LLC, a limited liability company incorporated in 1999 with members listed as Yamada, Stacey Yamada, Richard Yamada, Roy Horihata and Laura Fujimoto. The listed agent for LY20 and Triple 7 is Aaron Chung, a Hilo attorney and Hawaii County councilman.
Chung said Wednesday he helped Lance Yamada incorporate the business 17 years ago, but has no stock or ownership interest in either LY20 or Triple 7 and is not involved in either business.
“I’m listed as the agent to receive civil process, because I never took my name off the (incorporation document),” Chung said. “That’s it, no more.”
Chung added he is not Yamada’s legal counsel.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.