55 charged in gambling case

Tuesday, May 2, 2000 | 11:11 a.m.

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Fifty-five people, including three leaders at San Francisco Bay area card clubs, have been charged with gambling, drug and other charges.

Among the more than 40 suspects arraigned in Santa Clara County Superior Court on Monday were the general counsel and the operations vice president of the Bay 101 card club, and the owner of The Outpost card club in San Ramon.

The vice president, Hai Quang Huynh, 43, was charged with loan sharking, witness intimidation, being linked to organized crime and ordering an assault.

The lawyer, Ronald Werner, 52, was accused of perjury and attempting to dissuade the report of a crime.

Some of the 186 crimes were also alleged to have taken place at the Garden City card club in San Jose.

Bay 101 attorney Michael Reedy said he was shocked by the allegations and did not know the club was being investigated.

The clubs in San Jose have been under attack from civic leaders, such as Mayor Ron Gonzales, who complain they produce too much crime. The city levies a 13 percent gambling tax, collecting up to $7.5 million per year.

San Jose Deputy Police Chief Mike Miceli said the case "is not political." The investigation sprang from a series of letters sent to law enforcement and other officials, complaining about loan sharking and other crimes.