Card Clubs Los Angeles County

A former political consultant for the U.S.-controlled Bicycle Club casino has been indicted on charges of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the card club's political campaigns. Authorities said Charles G. "Jerry" Westlund Jr. embezzled $380,000 from the casino and its campaign committees, and used the money to buy low-rent apartment houses in Long Beach and Compton, among other purchases.

Charles G. "Jerry" Westlund Jr., a former state parole board member and political consultant to the Bicycle Club casino in Bell Gardens, was convicted Friday of tax evasion and forgery. Westlund, 33, was found guilty by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury on six counts of evading state income tax and two counts of forgery.

The federal government's long and embarrassing role as a major owner of the Bicycle Club Casino, one of California's biggest card clubs, may come to an end with a $25.3-million deal announced Monday to sell the federal share to the American arm of a vast British gambling concern. Federal trustee Frederick S. Wyle said in a brief statement that the U.S.

The state Fair Political Practices Commission has filed a 922-count complaint against a Bell Gardens casino partially owned by the federal government, accusing the card club of concealing its role in several election campaigns aimed at blocking potential competitors. If the Bicycle Club and its staff of political consultants are found liable on all counts, the FPPC could impose a record $1.84-million fine, officials said.

Hawaiian Gardens is poised to settle a lawsuit that until recently had stalled construction of a card club approved by city voters almost two years ago. Under the proposed agreement scheduled for approval today by the City Council, anti-gambling activists would drop their claims that city officials and card club licensee Irving Moskowitz violated a host of state and federal laws to create a monopoly on city gambling.

Hawaiian Gardens will open its long-awaited card club next week, and Dr. Irving Moskowitz will be the operator, city officials said. Moskowitz, the hospital and bingo parlor entrepreneur whose personal foundation has made regular contributions to city coffers in the past, has long sought permission to open a card club in Hawaiian Gardens but has been delayed by legal challenges. Officials are upbeat about the card club because of the expected additional revenue it will generate.

The state Fair Political Practices Commission has filed a 922-count complaint against a Bell Gardens casino partially owned by the federal government, accusing the card club of concealing its role in several election campaigns aimed at blocking potential competitors. If the Bicycle Club and its staff of political consultants are found liable on all counts, the FPPC could impose a record $1.84-million fine, officials said.

State gaming regulators have issued a card club license to a Hawaiian Gardens developer who plans to build a controversial gambling hall in the city. An attorney for developer Irving Moskowitz said architects are now designing a temporary club to be built in the 11900 block of Carson Street. It is expected to open within a year, he said. Construction of a larger club next to the site is expected to take more than two years.

Charles G. "Jerry" Westlund Jr., a former state parole board member and political consultant to the Bicycle Club casino in Bell Gardens, was convicted Friday of tax evasion and forgery. Westlund, 33, was found guilty by a Los Angeles Superior Court jury on six counts of evading state income tax and two counts of forgery.

Proprietors of the seven card clubs in Los Angeles County have agreed to drop a controversial Asian betting game under a proposed revision of the state's 98-year-old gambling law. In return, officials of the California Police Officers Assn. have tentatively agreed to support legislation that would allow the clubs to return to a recently banned fee system, under which the clubs collect a percentage of gamblers' winnings, according to Los Angeles County Undersheriff Robert A. Edmonds.

Hawaiian Gardens will open its long-awaited card club next week, and Dr. Irving Moskowitz will be the operator, city officials said. Moskowitz, the hospital and bingo parlor entrepreneur whose personal foundation has made regular contributions to city coffers in the past, has long sought permission to open a card club in Hawaiian Gardens but has been delayed by legal challenges. Officials are upbeat about the card club because of the expected additional revenue it will generate.

A former political consultant for the U.S.-controlled Bicycle Club casino has been indicted on charges of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from the card club's political campaigns. Authorities said Charles G. "Jerry" Westlund Jr. embezzled $380,000 from the casino and its campaign committees, and used the money to buy low-rent apartment houses in Long Beach and Compton, among other purchases.

Hawaiian Gardens is poised to settle a lawsuit that until recently had stalled construction of a card club approved by city voters almost two years ago. Under the proposed agreement scheduled for approval today by the City Council, anti-gambling activists would drop their claims that city officials and card club licensee Irving Moskowitz violated a host of state and federal laws to create a monopoly on city gambling.

State gaming regulators have issued a card club license to a Hawaiian Gardens developer who plans to build a controversial gambling hall in the city. An attorney for developer Irving Moskowitz said architects are now designing a temporary club to be built in the 11900 block of Carson Street. It is expected to open within a year, he said. Construction of a larger club next to the site is expected to take more than two years.

The federal government's long and embarrassing role as a major owner of the Bicycle Club Casino, one of California's biggest card clubs, may come to an end with a $25.3-million deal announced Monday to sell the federal share to the American arm of a vast British gambling concern. Federal trustee Frederick S. Wyle said in a brief statement that the U.S.

About 170 residents packed a City Council meeting Wednesday night to protest the idea of a card club in Baldwin Park. "I'm totally against it. I'll do everything in my power to fight it, even if I have to go door to door," said Mary Ann Scott, one of several members of the Walnut Christian Chapel who attended the meeting. "This is not going to happen, not while I live here." Anthony Bejarano Jr.

Despite opposition from two council members, the city's three card clubs have won approval to serve liquor to patrons seated at casino tables. By a 3-2 vote, the City Council on Tuesday approved an ordinance that allows the clubs to serve alcoholic beverages to card players. Previously, the clubs could serve liquor only in restaurants adjacent to gambling areas. The measure was sought by the Normandie Club.