PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

September 8, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact Information: PolicePRUnit@slcgov.com

SLCPD Gang Unit, SWAT Team Execute Search Warrant on Illegal Gambling Operation

SALT LAKE CITY — Recently, detectives with the Salt Lake City Police Department’s Gang Unit and Special Investigations Unit executed a search warrant at the Rose Park Coin Laundry, located at 1315 West 500 North, as part of an ongoing investigation into illegal gambling.

The search warrant resulted after a monthslong investigation.

On Thursday, September 1, 2022, SLCPD SWAT officers, detectives, members of the Pioneer and Central Bike squads, patrol officers, and SLCPD K9 officers secured the premises and executed a court-authorized search warrant.

During the search warrant, officers located and arrested 43-year-old Tofa Sakona.

Officers arrested Sakona for illegal gambling and possession of a controlled substance.

At the time of his arrest, Sakona had an outstanding felony warrant out of California.

Sakona has been returned to California pending the unrelated felony matter.

Detectives detained and released several other people on pending misdemeanor charges related to this investigation.

Detectives located and seized gambling machines, approximately $2,000 in cash, and gambling documents during the investigation.

The Salt Lake City Police Department works regularly to help improve community livability by meeting with, partnering with and educating community members to reduce crime. Police officers and detectives proactively address concerns raised by community members to minimize the impact crime has on individuals and communities and to help ensure a sense of safety.

Charges are only allegations, and every arrested person is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is not the custodian of record for jail booking photos. Utah Code 17-22-30 mostly prohibits the release of jail booking photos. Generally, a jail booking photo can only be released by the custodian of record after a conviction or when law enforcement determines the person is a fugitive or an imminent threat to a person or public safety. In Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office is the custodian of record for jail booking photos.

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