Detectives with the Corpus Christi Police Department’s Narcotics and Vice Investigations Division served simultaneous search warrants on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at two businesses on the city’s south side, resulting in the arrests of five women on illegal gambling and engaging in organized crime charges. Responding to a tip of illegal gambling taking place at a business on the 5000 block of Saratoga Blvd, NVID Detectives initiated a weeks-long investigation which resulted in dual search warrants being served at two adjacent businesses. As a result of the investigation and search, officers arrested Robbie Austin, age 60; Vanessa Olague, age 26; Claudia Resendez, age 21; Jessica Guerra, age 31; and Laura Colunga, age 22. All five were charged with Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in jail and a maximum $10,000 fine. Austin, Olague, Resendez, and Guerra were additionally charged with Gambling Promotion, Keeping a Gambling Place, and Possession of a Gambling Device, while Colunga was additionally charged with Keeping a Gambling Place. All three additional charges are class A misdemeanors. Fourteen patrons of the game room were issued warning citations for gambling and released at the scene. During the search, Detectives seized gambling equipment, over $36,000 cash, and other evidence of illegal gambling.
The investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are possible.
NVID Detectives were assisted in the operation by officers with the CCPD Operations Division and investigators with the State of Texas Comptroller’s Office, which regulates coin operated machines.
The Corpus Christi Police Department continues to collaborate with our local state and federal partners to investigate and combat illegal gambling. Investigators will continue to enforce all Texas gambling laws, which will help accomplish our mission to reduce crime, reduce the fear of crime and to improve the quality of life in our community.
CCPD Blotter 
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