Police: Santa Ana pizza shop used as front for illegal gambling

Three people were arrested and over a dozen more were detained after Santa Ana police said officers busted a pizza shop that was a front for an illegal gambling operation.

The case began after complaints from people in the community were made about Uno Free Pizza at 2525 W. 17th Street, officials said.

Pizza was served in a section of the shop, but another part had several illegal gambling machines, said Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

“People pay to play the games and it’s like a game of chance where they’re playing for money, like in Vegas,” Bertagna said.

Authorities said investigators served a search warrant at Uno Free Pizza and found four illegal gambling machines that looked like standard arcade cabinets. The machines were seized by police.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of having outstanding warrants, and one person was arrested on suspicion of illegal gaming. Sixteen people were detained at the scene.

“This is one of our top priorities,” Bertagna said. “I’d kind of equate it to illegal dispensaries. They open shops without licenses and then operate these illegal gambling dens.”

The identities of the three arrested were not immediately available.