Woman arrested in relation to maquinitas raid dating back to 2020
By César Rodriguez, LAREDO MORNING TIMES
Nov 21, 2022
Adelina Clemente de Pinto.

Adelina Clemente de Pinto.
Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office

A woman has been arrested in relation to a maquinitas raid that occurred back in 2020, according to Laredo police.

Adelina Clemente de Pinto, 52, was arrested on the charge of gambling promotion.

De Pinto participated in the earnings of a gambling place identified as Sahara Amusement Center on 3301 Chacota St. She was an employee there and participated in paying money to winning customers, states an arrest affidavit.

The case dates back to May 14, 2019, when the Laredo Police Department Narcotics and Vice Unit received information about the Sahara Amusement Center making illegal cash payouts to customers.

Police documented four illegal cash payouts to undercover officers between Dec. 3, 2019, and July 10, 2020. Undercover officers won $10, $20, $25 and $45, according to police.

On Aug. 13, 2020, the narcotics and vice unit along with the LPD Crimes Against Property Unit, the LPD Juvenile And Gang Enforcement Task Force and the Webb County District Attorney’s Office raided five eight-liners throughout the city.

Locations raided were the Phoenix Amusement Center on 7060 San Bernardo Ave., Four Seasons Amusement on 3806 South U.S. 83, Sahara Amusement Center on Chacota, Paris Amusement Center on 517 Shiloh Drive and the Blue Diamond Amusement Center on 2301 E. Saunders St.

Police encountered a woman identified as de Pinto when they executed the search warrant at the Sahara Amusement Center. She was in the front door taking personal information from the customers. Police also encountered other customers and a male fixing a slot machine at the amusement center.

Authorities seized $1,515 which de Pinto had in her left back pocket. Police also confiscated a safe containing $5,550. An additional $250 were seized from inside the safe along with $6 from a smaller safe and the counter, according to court documents.

Police also seized 54 slot machines and recovered $486 from the machines. In total, police seized $7,807 from the location, according to the affidavit.

De Pinto was taken to LPD headquarters for questioning. She stated she had been working at the Sahara Amusement Center for about five months. De Pinto stated she would get paid $10 per hour, according to police.

“Adelina Clemente de Pinto also stated she was the ‘runner’ at the Sahara Amusement, which consisted of tending to customers’ needs, exchanging bills to smaller denominations and making cash payouts,” states the affidavit.