In what was described as the dismantling of a citywide unlawful gambling operation, police in Trenton, NJ, US, managed to seize 70 slot machines and over $100,000 in cash.
The raids, which took place on Monday, October 5, followed a lengthy 11-month investigation led by the Trenton Police Department’s Alcohol and Beverage Control Unit and the New Jersey State Police Financial Crimes Unit.
As a reminder, at the end of August, the Passaic County Sheriff’s Office seized $95,000 in an illegal gambling operation operating out of a corner store in Paterson.
Targeted: Barber Shops, Bodegas, and Small Shops
Officers executed search warrants at businesses across Trenton, including bodegas, barber shops, and other small stores.
Police identified 33-year-old H.B.A. of Philadelphia as the alleged operator behind the complex gambling network.
Philadelphia police arrested A. at his home on Monday, with authorities claiming that he had placed more than 70 gambling machines in roughly 30 businesses throughout Trenton.
The man is now facing serious charges, including promoting gambling, possession of gambling devices, maintaining a gambling resort, and money laundering involving between $75,000 and $500,000, as per the charges filed in the case.
They Received a Tip
Investigators say the operation came to light in November 2025 after state police received a tip about slot machines being operated in Trenton businesses.
Around the same time, Trenton officers reportedly stopped A. and found him carrying a large amount of cash along with a receipt showing that one of the machines had received $25,000.
The investigation later discovered that none of the businesses involved had the required licenses to operate slot machines or games of chance.
Undercover officers were sent to some of the locations, while detectives monitored A.’s movements and tracked his car.
He Allegedly Deposited Thousands Every Month
According to investigators, A. was seen regularly driving from his Philadelphia home to Trenton, visiting several businesses in a single day to service the machines and collect the money. Authorities allege that he then deposited the money into personal and business bank accounts.
Bank records obtained by investigators reportedly showed monthly deposits ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dollars. Police allege the accounts were used to mix gambling proceeds with other funds and conceal their source.
Philadelphia police also reported finding three semi-automatic handguns and more than half a pound of marijuana at A.’s residence. He faces separate weapons and drug charges in Philadelphia.
Concerns About ICE Actions
The investigation involved several law enforcement agencies, including the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office and police departments from Ewing, Hopewell, West Windsor and Robbinsville, as well as the New Jersey State Police.
Considering the impressively large police presence across Trenton, some residents wondered whether the activity involved federal immigration enforcement. This prompted the police to issue a public safety alert explaining that the increased presence was part of a planned operation and was unrelated to an ICE action.
The Trenton businesses where the machines were found were issued summonses for maintaining a gambling resort and possessing gambling devices.
Police said the investigation sends a warning to businesses operating illegal gambling machines and urged residents with information about illegal gambling to contact the department.