Charges Laid in CFSEU-BC’s JIGIT Investigation into Illegal Gaming House

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia’s (CFSEU-BC’s) Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (JIGIT) has secured criminal charges against two individuals in relation to a 2021 investigation into an illegal gaming house.

In June 2021, CFSEU-BC’s JIGIT Gaming Intelligence Investigations Unit (GIIU) identified and referred an investigation to JIGIT Operations regarding the suspicious activity of a location in Richmond, consistent with alleged illegal gaming.

The investigation progressed to the point where on August 27, 2021 the CFSEU-BC JIGIT executed a search warrant on an apartment in the 5500 block Cooney Road, Richmond.

The search of the apartment revealed activity, products and patrons consistent with an illegal gaming house.

On April 27, 2023 the British Columbia Prosecution Service approved charges against two individuals with the following offences;

• Jian Rong, a 54- year-old female from Richmond is charged with;

a) Keeping a Gaming or Betting House, contrary to section 201(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
b) Possession of Property Obtained by Crime, contrary to section 354(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

• Kuo Li Wong, a 44- year-old female from Richmond is charged with;

a) Keeping a Gaming or Betting House, contrary to section 201(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada
b) Possession of Proceeds of Crime, contrary to section 354(1) of the Criminal Code of Canada.
c) Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, contrary to section 88 of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Both individuals will appear in court at a later date.

“Illegal gaming, and the locations that facilitate them, have been the root of other criminal offences that impact the safety of the public. It is a criminal offence to be involved in the active participation of illegal gaming and in British Columbia, all gaming activity that may result in a form of financial gain to those involved in its operation, must be sanctioned by the Province of British Columbia’s Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch (GPEB),” says Sergeant Brenda Winpenny, Media Relations Officer for CFSEU-BC.

CFSEU-BC’s JIGIT enters into investigations adhering to its mandate as follows;

To provide a dedicated, integrated and coordinated multi-jurisdictional investigative and enforcement response to illegal gaming in BC with an emphasis on top-tier organized crime and gangs. These crimes include money laundering; corruption and infiltration; loan sharking and predatory lending; internet gaming; video gaming machine and device distribution; offshore lottery schemes; high-limit card rooms and underground casinos; sophisticated bookmaking operations