Salt Lake City Police Shut Down Illegal Gambling Operation at State Street Cafe

The owner of a Salt Lake City internet cafe has been arrested after an extensive undercover operation uncovered illegal gambling activity. Ryan Jovon Delahuerta, 42, was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. He faces multiple charges, including promoting gambling, possessing gambling devices, and operating fringe gaming devices.

Delahuerta, who owns MyPodZzz at 1480 S. State Street and other local businesses, is accused of running a gambling operation at his internet cafe. Salt Lake City police executed search warrants at MyPodZzz and Urban Pawn, a separate business located at 4791 S. State Street, as part of the investigation. The operation resulted in the seizure of more than $56,000 in cash, firearms, gambling machines, and drugs.

Detectives believe the illegal gambling activity at MyPodZzz was part of a larger operation, with proceeds allegedly funneled to Urban Pawn. Police revealed that undercover officers participated in a game known as the “fish game,” where players insert money into a machine that turns it into “credits.” During the game, officers noticed that the amount of credits in the machine exceeded the amount of money they had inserted, prompting them to attempt to “cash out.” This action led to the discovery of the illicit gambling operation.

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Salt Lake City Police Chief Mike Brown emphasized the danger of such illegal gambling operations, stating, “These activities don’t just break the law; they foster environments where other criminal behavior thrives.” He praised the work of the Special Investigation Unit, SWAT officers, patrol units, and collateral officers for their efforts in uncovering the illegal operation.

At Urban Pawn, more than $48,000 was seized, along with two handguns, three gambling machines, and various drugs, including fentanyl pills, methamphetamine, and marijuana products. Chief Brown issued a stern warning to anyone involved in criminal activities masked as legitimate businesses: “We will not tolerate actions that contribute to crime or undermine public trust.”

The area surrounding 1480 S. State Street has been a hotspot for criminal activity, with police noting a series of recent violent crimes. Over the past six months, incidents such as aggravated assaults, robberies, burglaries, threats, and stalking have plagued the neighborhood. Just days before the arrests, a stabbing at a nearby location, 1470 S. State Street, led to criminal charges against Nathaniel David Ferguson.

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As the investigation continues, police say more arrests and charges are expected.

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keelee-mccain

Keelee McCain is a junior at Weber High School. This is her second year on staff, this year as Assistant to the Chief. She does have a life (probably) but she can't think of anything to write in here, so she's probably just going to ramble now. She has an orange cat who she likes better than any human. If you see her being quiet or not sitting on top of a desk, there is something very wrong. In her free time she enjoys harassing her favorite teachers and sleeping. Her life plans include making it through high school and leaving. Happy lifeing.

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