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3 family members charged in Chesco gambling probe

Three family members face charges after detectives seized five illegal gambling machines and more than $37,000 in cash from two businesses in Chester County, officials announced Friday.

Three family members face charges after detectives seized five illegal gambling machines and more than $37,000 in cash from two businesses in Chester County, officials announced Friday.

Jaime Sandoval, 48; his son Hugo Sandoval, 22; and niece Elizabeth Sandoval, 30, were arrested on April 18 and each face 220 charges of gambling offenses.

Detectives received a tip that illegal gambling machines were operating at the Taqueria Guadalajara Express restaurant in Kennett Square and El Nayarit Mexican Store 2, a grocery store in Oxford, according to the county District Attorney's Office.

The machines are illegal in Pennsylvania, because they can be manipulated easily and are often rigged to prevent players from ever winning.

"Given the location and customers of these stores, these machines were used to target and take money from economically disadvantaged people," said Sgt. Robert Dougherty of the county's Drugs and Organized Crime Unit.

The unit sent someone to play the gaming machines to confirm the gambling operations. Detectives executed search warrants on March 18 and found four "Instant Access" gambling machines and more than $37,000 in gambling proceeds at Taqueria Guadalajara Express. They found a "Crazy Bugs" gambling machine at El Nayarit Mexican Store 2.

A grant from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board partially financed the investigation.

Michaelle Bond