Illegal gambling operators could face stiff prison sentences

ACRAMENTO — Four men have pled guilty to conducting an illegal gambling operation that took illicit sports bets and doled out lottery tickets in three counties over a two-year period.

The gambling business, which went on from September 2006 to October 2008, involved illegal lottery games based on the California Daily Three lottery numbers and unlawful sports betting in the Los Angeles area and counties of San Joaquin and Stanislaus, prosecutors said.

On Tuesday, Saret Nosar, 57, of San Gabriel, Kanary Khin, 54, of Long Beach, and Pang Yean, 66, of Modesto entered guilty pleas in federal district court. A fourth man, 48-year-old Somachy Keo of Modesto, pled guilty to the same charge on Aug. 25.

Except for Keo, the defendants will be sentenced on Nov. 24. Keo’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for a week earlier, Nov. 17. The defendants face a maximum of five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The actual sentence will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables, and any applicable statutory sentencing factors.

The prosecution of the four men follows an earlier, similar federal prosecution of persons involved in an illegal gambling business in this district. In 2006 and 2007, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internal Revenue Service, and Division of Gambling Control conducted a lengthy joint investigation that resulted in seven people being convicted of federal felony offenses and an additional 11 being convicted of misdemeanor offenses in Sacramento and Yolo county superior courts.

The federal convictions included guilty pleas by Prasert Somsinsawasdi and his wife Noy Somsinsawasdi for conducting an illegal gambling operation. Prasert Somsinsawasdi, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison, also pleaded guilty to money laundering. The defendants in that case forfeited more than $350,000 in illicit gambling proceeds.

In a related matter, Youn You, Vanna Chin, Kongchanh Keopadapsy and Vath Ngonevongsa, all of Stockton, pled guilty in San Joaquin Superior Court on April 14, 2008 to misdemeanor gambling offenses.