Police: Gambling operators tried to bribe investigator

By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Worried their illegal gambling business was in danger, two men tried to bribe a Chamblee police officer for information about upcoming gambling raids, police said.

Authorities busted the operation on Saturday, searching the men's homes in addition to eight DeKalb and Gwinnett businesses. They seized 68 video gambling machines and $164,000 in cash.

Duoc Van Le, 36, was arrested when he arrived home in Woodstock during the search. Thien Nguyen, 35, of Lilburn remains at large.

Police say Le leased the machines to businesses and shared in revenue from illegal winnings. The businesses raided are owned by Nguyen or his wife, or received machines from Le, police said.

Georgia allows video gaming machines as long as they pay out store credit or prizes, not cash, and no more than $5 worth on any single play. Undercover Chamblee investigators and confidential informants visited all eight businesses, played on the machines and were able to get their winnings in cash, police said.

The investigation began after a raid last October that netted 14 gambling arrests at six businesses. Police say Nguyen, who owned one of those businesses, repeatedly called an investigator asking to discuss the case. Le also called with the same request, police said.

Police say both men also tried to learn the investigator's home address.

In a meeting set up by police at a restaurant, Nguyen and Le "offered to pay the investigator if he would keep them advised of any future gambling investigations or operations," Chamblee police chief Marc Johnson said. Chamblee and GBI investigators recorded the meeting.

At the end, Nguyen gave the investigator two $500 certificates, police said. Over the next several months, Nguyen paid the investigator $2,000 in cash five times, police said. Le gave the investigator $1,000 in cash and two $500 gift certificates, police said.

Nguyen is charged with five counts of bribery and one count of commercial gambling. Le is charged with two counts of bribery.

Le is being held at the Chamblee Detention Center and is scheduled to make his first court appearance Tuesday afternoon.

Police arrested 10 others for commercial gambling after executing search warrants at these businesses:

May Ngan Cafe & Billiards, 3240 Shallowford Road, Chamblee

May Hong Cafe, 5150 Buford Highway, Suite A140, Doraville

Di Vang Cafe, 4646 Buford Highway, Suite C, Chamblee

Chot Nho Billiards, 2494 Chamblee Tucker Road, Chamblee

MTV Cafe Billiards, 4186 Buford Highway, Suite A, Atlanta

Cafe Khang, 5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Suite A5, Norcross

Cafe Kinh Do, 4805 Lawrenceville Highway, Suite 120, Lilburn

ATL Billiards, 3647 Market St., Clarkston.