Two individuals have been apprehended by FBI agents for their alleged involvement in a violent armed robbery at an illicit gambling establishment in Flushing, Queens, last July. The incident, which resulted in one person sustaining gunshot wounds, has led to charges against Jamel Berry from Astoria and Zhong Wang, a Chinese national.

Robbery at Flushing Gambling Den Leaves Victim Injured

According to authorities, the robbery took place on the night of July 19, 2023, when Berry and his accomplices, including two individuals who are currently at large, stormed into the underground gambling den located on Avery Avenue. Prior to the robbery, Wang allegedly disabled the building’s power supply to aid in the execution of the crime, as reported by the Astoria Post.

Once inside, the perpetrators assaulted one individual with a metal pipe and brandished a firearm, coercing others to comply with their demands. The group then made off with approximately $3,000 in cash before firing a shot that struck an innocent bystander in the abdomen. The victim was rushed to New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital for medical attention and has since survived the ordeal.

Investigators managed to retrieve surveillance footage capturing Berry, Wang, and their accomplices congregating at a nearby location before proceeding to the gambling den. The footage also captured the suspects fleeing the scene following the robbery.

Astoria Man and Chinese National Detained Pending Further Legal Proceedings

During a hearing at Brooklyn federal court, prosecutors argued that both Berry and Wang posed a significant flight risk if released. They emphasized Wang’s ties to China, pointing out the absence of an extradition treaty between the United States and China, which could complicate efforts to bring him to justice if he were to flee.

Consequently, Wang was ordered to be held in custody, while Berry was placed under home detention pending further legal proceedings. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them, with negotiations for potential plea deals reportedly underway.

This is not the first encounter with law enforcement for Jamel Berry, as he was previously convicted in 2020 for attempted criminal possession of a weapon.

The incident sheds light on the prevalence of illegal gambling dens in neighborhoods like Flushing, which have historically been targeted by armed robbers seeking easy money. 

Despite efforts to crack down on such activities, the allure of illicit gambling continues to attract criminal elements, posing a challenge for law enforcement agencies tasked with maintaining public safety.

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The Dutch police have cracked down on an illegal gambling ring and have arrested almost a dozen people in the process. In addition to stopping the unlicensed poker operations, the authorities seized a couple of guns and illegal drugs.

The operation was a collaborative effort between the police and the Kansspelautoriteit (KSA), the Netherlands’ gambling regulator. After identifying a suspicious location on Nieuwpoortkade in Amsterdam-West, the police carried out a raid shortly before midnight. The action continued all night, according to locals.

The police found people playing an illegal poker game. After interrupting the session, the authorities arrested a total of 11 people. They also seized the poker supplies, some drugs and two guns. In addition, the enforcers took a number of electronic devices such as phones and hard drives. Many of the suspicious items were found thanks to sniffer dogs, the KSA noted.

According to the police, investigators will look into the arrestees to learn who the owner/s of the firearms is. The criminal investigation department is also investigating the people so they can be tried appropriately later.

KSA: Unlicensed Operations Hurt the Market

In its release, the Kansspelautoriteit criticized the illegal gambling operation, reminding people that unlicensed activities undermine the business of companies that play by the rules. In addition, the KSA noted that black market operators and illegal gambling rings rarely have the same safer gambling safeguards that legal companies are obliged to offer.

Furthermore, illegal gambling activities and the use of illegal drugs are serious violations of public order, the KSA insisted. To make matters worse, illegal gambling dens often breed other crimes, such as the distribution of illegal substances, violence, money laundering, etc.

Because of that, the authorities will continue to work together to crack down on crime and fraud, the KSA warned.

Other KSA Activity

In other news, the KSA recently fined a number of licensed operators over less severe but still serious gambling-related violations. Earlier this month, the watchdog slammed Merkur with a fine of almost $50,000 for allowing a self-excluded person to gamble.

Earlier, the KSA handed a $438,000 fine to Betent, which was found guilty of promoting its products to young adults. While young adults aren’t prohibited from playing, the Dutch market seeks to protect them from overexposure to gambling content. According to many studies, young people’s behavior is still developing, which is why they are extra vulnerable to gambling harm at this age.

In March, the regulator also sanctioned the online gambling operator Winning Poker Network which targeted local customers without having a license.

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