San Francisco Police Department officers from Ingleside Station served a search warrant at an Excelsior District business that housed a covert gambling operation.
Officers first discovered the illegal casino after responding to an armed robbery-in-progress call at a storefront on the 4100 block of Mission Street on July 4. While no armed robbery occurred, officers discovered and seized multiple gambling machines and money counting devices. One man was cited and released for narcotics-related charges.
A follow-up investigation led to a search warrant being served on the premises on July 29.
"During the search, officers recovered 11 illegal gambling machines, cash, money-counting equipment, pay/owe records, suspected methamphetamine, narcotics packaging materials, drug paraphernalia, an expandable baton, a stun gun, and other evidence connected to the operation," according to a report in Ingleside Station Capt. Gerry Newbeck's weekly newsletter.
Officers detained multiple suspects. Sixty-year-old Miguel Lorenzo of San Francisco was "operating an illegal gambling establishment," according to a SFPD spokesperson. Lorenzo was booked into San Francisco County Jail for illegal gambling, gambling equipment, possession of methamphetamine for sale, stun gun by prohibited person and illegal possession of a baton.
"Miguel Lorenzo, the one arrest presented to us for review, was charged with felony possession of a drug with two or more previous convictions (PC 11395(b)(1))," a spokesperson for the Office of District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said. "His next court date is August 21, 2026, to set the date of the preliminary hearing."
Baldomero Sablad, 63, was booked into jail for his unrelated active and outstanding warrants.
Teresita Bonifacio, 67, was cited and released for illegal gambling and possession of gambling equipment.
SFPD's Property Control Division seized the gambling machines and other evidence.
The investigation is ongoing, according to police.
Anyone with information is asked to call 415-575-4444 or text TIP411 and begin the message with "SFPD."
