Porterville police arrest six in illegal gambling and fraud bust

PORTERVILLE, Calif. (FOX26) — Six individuals were arrested following a police investigation into illegal gambling and fraud activities in Porterville, authorities said.

The Porterville Police Departmentresponded to a report of a suspect attempting to make fraudulent purchases on Friday with a stolen credit card at a business on the 1300 block of West Henderson Avenue.

The suspect had already left the location before officers arrived, but his vehicle was identified.

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A few hours later, officers located the vehicle at a vacant business on the 100 block of West Orange Avenue.

Officers detained 42-year-old Mark Keoninh, 36-year-old Sandra Gonzalez, 42-year-old Kathy Saefong, 35-year-old David Carr, 57-year-old Ernie Hernandez, and 50-year-old Kham Khamsouk.

Police identified Keoninh as the individual involved in the earlier fraudulent activity and was found with numerous fraudulent checks and stolen credit cards.

Officers also discovered evidence of an illegal gambling operation at the site.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the business and during the search, found illegal gambling machines, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, and additional evidence of illegal gambling.

They also searched Keoninh’s residence on North F Street where they found hundreds of items of evidence, including stolen and altered checks, stolen bank cards, stolen mail, fraudulent social security cards, and equipment for producing fraudulent documents.

Keoninh was booked at the Tulare County South County Detention Facility with bail set at $102,500.

Gonzalez’s bail was set at $125,000, while Saefong’s was set at $60,000.

Carr, Hernandez, and Khamsouk were also booked into the facility.

Authorities are asking anyone with information about the investigation to contact the Porterville Police Department at (559) 782-7400.

Information can also be provided anonymously.