About 40 gambling machines seized in Daytona Beach along with cash, guns, police say
About 40 illegal gambling machines, some firearms and approximately $20,000 in cash were found as part of an investigation into an illegal gambling operation, according to Daytona Beach Police.
The items were found when police executed a search warrant at 9:20 a.m. Thursday at 833 Mason Ave., police said.
Mukesh Parmar, 53, of Holly Hill, was charged with establishing of a gambling place, keeping a gambling house, a misdemeanor, and booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail Thursday. He was released on $500 bond early Friday, according to the jail's website.
Ketan Chaudhari, 33, and Dhruval Chaudhari, 24, were also charged with establishing a gambling place. Police believe the two were living in a back room at the business, the charging affidavit states. Often employees of illegal gambling establishments live at the business for security, because the businesses are often targeted for robberies or burglaries, the affidavit stated.
Both Chaudharis were released from the Volusia County Branch Jail on Friday after posting a $500 bond.
The manager of alleged gambling business
The Chaudharis were in a backroom of the business when detectives breached a back door after no one responded to their knocks and announcement, the affidavit stated. Parmar arrived while police were at the scene.
Parmar told police he was hired by an acquaintance to manage the business when the acquaintance is not present. He said he works from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. while the other two men work from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. He said a security guard named "Melvin" works the night shift.
Parmar said at the end of the day he takes all the money from the machines and places it in a safe. He said business was slow so the place was not making profit. He said he reuses the money in the safe to pay out customers' winnings.
Parmar said one of the guns at the business was his for protection and he did not know who owned the other gun.
Besides the gambling machines, detectives found computers, televisions, ledgers and other items.
While the press release states detectives found $20,000, the charging affidavit states that approximately $50,032 was seized.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida police seize about 40 gambling machines, guns, officials say
