HOUSTON – Three suspects arrested in a monthslong Houston police investigation into illegal gaming in Chinatown faced a judge early Saturday.
The judge found there was not enough evidence to hold them and released the suspects.
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The accused manager Thy Nguyen and employees James Wang, Andy Vo and Vu The Vo were charged with money laundering.
VIDEO: Money Laundering suspects in PC Court
Vu The Vo remains in jail, still facing charges
The judge suggested the dates the Harris County District Attorney's office alleges the crimes took place didn't match up with the evidence, so she determined there was no probable cause for those three arrests.
"We remain confident there is certainly sufficient evidence that these three defendants should be charged with a crime, as have more than three dozen others in this case," said Dane Schiller, spokesman for the Harris County District Attorney's Office. "The magistrate's decision is rooted in a paperwork technicality that will be resolved Monday when prosecutors present evidence to a grand jury that will vote on whether to issue an indictment."
Houston Police Officer Thomas Lam was also charged in this case and is out on bond.
The District Attorney's office says he was a prolific gambler who acted as a "bouncer" for the game room, sometimes even wearing his uniform.
Investigators have been looking into illegal game room activity in Chinatown for two years now and have seized $2.4 million and arrested 41 people including three Houston police officers.