At a time when many Californians are enjoying summer vacations, California Alcoholic Beverage Control agents have been hard at work enforcing the laws that help to keep us safe from alcohol-related crimes, injuries and accidents.
“From border to border, ABC agents are working with local law enforcement departments to keep alcohol out of the hands of the under-21 set, to be sure businesses selling alcoholic beverages are on the up and up, and that local bars and restaurants aren’t contributing to noise and criminal activity in neighborhoods,” said Alan Barcelona, president of the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) which represents ABC agents.
JULY 1 – SACRAMENTO: The month of July started with the indefinite suspension of the liquor license at the Come-N-Go Food Store on Freeport Blvd. in Sacramento.
“This case obviously was a huge priority for our ABC agents,” said Barcelona, “The crimes happened mid-June and the liquor license was suspended July first. That process typically takes months and months. It indicates to me, there were some serious violations going on, and on a regular basis and swift action was necessary.”
ABC agents cited Come-N-Go Food Store owner Daniel Tung Sun on June 12, 2014 for selling alcoholic beverages to two 17-year-olds. Later, on the very same day, agents arrested him after he allegedly sold alcoholic beverages to a 16-year-old. He was released from jail on June 13 and on June 14 allegedly sold alcoholic beverages to a 19-year-old.
JULY 3 – BRISBANE: ABC agents posted a Notice of Suspension at the Historic 23 Club on Visitacion Avenue in Brisbane after agents discovered internet gambling. Agents witnessed customers gambling on computers owned by the club. The club was ordered to cease the serving and sale of alcoholic beverages for 30 days.
JULY 15 – CHINO HILLS: ABC agents teamed up with Chino Hills Police Officers for an alcohol enforcement operation that targeted store clerks who sell alcohol to minors and store patrons who buy alcohol for kids who approach them outside of stores.
The minor decoy enforcement operation involved a decoy under the age of 21 attempting to buy alcohol from 13 employees at various stores. Two of the 13 clerks allowed the decoy to purchase the booze.
In addition, a decoy approached six adult patrons outside of establishments that sell alcohol, explained he/she was too young to purchase alcohol and requested that the patron purchase the alcohol. Two of the six patrons approached, furnished the decoy with alcohol. Those two patrons were arrested and face a $1,000 fine and 24-hours of community services.
JULY 17 – BARSTOW: ABC agents worked with Barstow police and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies on a decoy operation to flush out those business that do not take care in preventing alcohol from being purchased by those under 21 years of age.
The operation involved a decoy under 21 years old attempting to buy alcohol at 16 different businesses. The decoy was able to purchase alcohol at three of the locations. At one of those businesses, an employee was arrested after she allegedly sold alcohol to the decoy and then gave officers a false name to avoid prosecution. That employee has been identified as 44-year-old Ana Gallardo. Gallardo is a convicted felon and was on probation at the time of her arrest.
JULY 18 – VAN NUYS: ABC agents and Los Angeles police arrested eight people surrounding a crackdown at Mariscos Casa Corona, a restaurant and bar on Vanowen Street in Van Nuys. One person was arrested for selling illegal drugs. During the course of their two-month investigation, undercover agents purchased cocaine more than once. The drug sales were facilitated by an employee of the bar and restaurant. The other arrests involved the solicitation of alcoholic beverages which involved bar servers placing a surcharge on beverages in exchange for keeping male patrons company.
JULY 18 – SAN BRUNO: ABC agents wasted no time suspending the liquor license at the Paper Moon, a karaoke bar in San Bruno. The Notice of Suspension was posted after agents and San Bruno police recognized the bar was draining police resources with too many calls for service at or near that address.
JULY 19 – SALINAS: ABC agents cited four people at four off-sale retail locations for selling alcohol to someone under-21. The citations were the result of a decoy operation.
JULY 23 – VENTURA: ABC agents conducted a decoy shoulder tap operation and arrested two people for buying alcohol for the under-21 decoy. The decoy approached 39 adults requesting they purchase alcohol for him/her. One suspect was cited for driving on a revoked license.
JULY 24 – WILMINGTON: ABC agents posted a Notice of Revocation at the Coral Reef Bar on West Anaheim Street in Wilmington. The revocation means the business can no longer sell or serve alcohol. During the joint investigation by ABC agents and Los Angeles police, undercover agents were presented with the opportunity to buy drinks with a surcharge added on if they wished the company of female employees. The investigation was conducted after LAPD received complaints from the community about the operation of the bar.
