TYLER — The owners of two suspected illegal gambling establishments in Smith County were arrested Monday on organized crime charges.
Dilshad Ali, 58, and Salim Abdul Hussain, 65, both of Tyler are the owners of the Minute Stop convenience store and the Express Beer and Wine in the 118000 block of Texas State Highway 64 West.
The stores were raided on Feb. 8 after investigators obtained warrants to seize the illegal gaming machines.
Authorities also raided their residence in the 600 block of West Heritage Drive, where investigators believed the couple kept records of the gaming activities.
Ali and Hussain were arrested Feb. 8 and charged with keeping a gambling place, gambling promotion and possession of gambling equipment. They posted their $150,000 bonds and were released.
Now, they face felony charges for engaging in organized criminal activity.
Ali and Hussain were booked into the Smith County jail shortly after 10:30 p.m. Monday, according to jail records. They posted their $22,500 bonds and were released.
This is the second arrest this month in the on-going investigation into gaming operations on Highway 64.
