Couple Arrested on Bookmaking Charges

A Camarillo couple suspected of running an interstate bookmaking operation were released on bail just hours after their arrest this week by Ventura County sheriff’s deputies.

The sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit served a search warrant on Phung Dinh Chu, 41, and Van Thihong Chu, 40, at their home in the 1500 block of Paso Robles Court shortly before 5 p.m. Monday. Authorities said the warrant was served after a six-month investigation indicated the couple headed a large bookmaking operation.

Both were booked late that evening, posted $5,000 bail each and were released early Tuesday.

In the house, detectives found bookmaking evidence, including discs and records that indicated the operation began in 1993, Sgt. Larry Baugher said.

The Chus are suspected of accepting wagers of $500 to $1,000 on both college and professional sporting events, including NCAA basketball tournament and professional NBA games, Baugher said.

The husband, Phung Dinh Chu, is also a federal government employee, Baugher said.

There is evidence the operation may extend across Southern California and into Northern California counties and Texas, Baugher said.

Sheriff’s officials were tipped off to the operation by two anonymous letters, said authorities, adding that it’s difficult to determine how much money had been made from the operation because the books were kept in Vietnamese.

“We have a lot of things to go through and look at, and them being in a foreign language isn’t helping any,” Baugher said.

A detective from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department who is fluent in Vietnamese will assist in deciphering the symbols, he said.