A California, US, real estate investor who has been accused of abusing children at his Arcadia mansion is also reportedly connected to a separate investigation into an alleged illegal casino and drug operation.
The alleged gambling ring was located at a commercial property that the man controlled in El Monte.
Sixty-six-year-old G.X. was arrested on October 6 alongside his wife, S.Z., 39, over allegations involving the mistreatment of children raised at their home.
They Pled Not Guilty to Child Abuse
The couple has pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit child abuse as well as dissuading witnesses.
Prosecutors allege that 15 children, some as young as two, were subjected to repeated violence, with nannies allegedly instructed to beat them. Police removed 21 children from the residence during the investigation. The couple has denied the allegations through their attorney.
X. had already attracted law enforcement attention over suspected criminal activity at a commercial complex in El Monte, near Los Angeles.
According to court filings cited by the Los Angeles Times, police repeatedly raided the property over three years after receiving a tip in December 2021 about an unlicensed nightclub.
During the initial raid, officers stopped a driver leaving the premises with five pounds of methamphetamine. Detectives searching the complex reportedly discovered a concealed gambling area containing electronic gaming devices, poker tables, mahjong setups and cash.
After more searches, authorities came across counterfeit currency, large quantities of marijuana, a concealed handgun and equipment associated with a psychedelic mushroom-growing operation.
The city of El Monte alleges in a civil lawsuit that X. and other defendants participated in a broader criminal enterprise operating across multiple properties. Municipal attorneys also accuse him of transferring ownership of the complex between companies he controlled to conceal his alleged involvement.
Investigators say that the respective property was related to H.M., a convicted felon known as “Dragon”.
The man had previously served time in federal prison on charges of conspiracy, identity theft, and immigration-related offenses.
No Illicit Gambling Charges
No official criminal charges for operating the alleged gambling ring have yet been formulated against the Californian man.
The civil allegations concerning the El Monte property are separate matters from the disturbing criminal case that involves the abused children.
The investigation into the Arcadia “house of horrors” began after a two-month-old infant who suffered severe head trauma had been hospitalized. This automatically prompted the authorities to proceed with a welfare check at the Californians’ home.
Prosecutors allege that more than 30 surveillance cameras inside the mansion were used to monitor the children and direct nannies.
If they are convicted on the child-abuse charges, the couple will face prison time. Namely, X.’s punishment could be up to 17 years in state prison, while his wife could face up to 11 years.