TWO people have now been charged after the Joint Illegal Gaming Investigation Team (JIGIT) of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of British Columbia’s (CFSEU-BC) conducted an investigation into an alleged illegal gaming house.
In early 2022, JIGIT started an investigation into the “Big Shots Cafe” after receiving information that there was illegal gaming taking place at this cafe located in the 3900-block of Hastings Street East in Burnaby. This cafe was also investigated in 2019 for the same alleged offence.
JIGIT conducted a thorough investigation which led to the approval of a search warrant for the cafe that took place in July 2023. The officers arrested 10 people at the cafe and one person at his residence.
The following items were seized from the cafe:
* Poker chips;
* Ledgers; gaming table;
* Cards, and other gaming paraphernalia;
* Approximately $14,000 in cash;
* DVR and multiple cell phones.
* Four Video Lottery Terminals ((VLTs, commonly known as slot machines).
Three of the VLTs were determined to be functioning, and two of the VLTs had money inside.
JIGIT investigators processed all seized exhibits and submitted the report to Crown Counsel for charge approval.
On March 10, 2025, Crown Counsel approved charges on two suspects. Francisco Batista Pires, 62, of Vancouver and Angelo Giuseppe Freda, 60, of Burnaby have been charged with one count each of keeping a common gaming house. An appearance notice was issued for both accused to appear in court at a later date.
“An illegal gaming house can fuel a cycle of crime that harms individuals, destabilizes communities, and strengthens organized crime networks by providing them with both a financial base and a pool of vulnerable individuals to exploit,” said Cpl. Sarbjit K. Sangha, Media Relations Officer at CFSEU-BC.
CFSEU-BC was assisted in the investigation by the Integrated Emergency Response Team, the Uniform Gang Enforcement Team and Burnaby RCMP.
CFSEU-BC’s JIGIT enters into investigations adhering to its mandate as follows: “To provide a dedicated, integrated and coordinated multi-jurisdictional investigative and enforcement response to illegal gaming in BC with an emphasis on top-tier organized crime and gangs. These crimes include money laundering; corruption and infiltration; loan-sharking and predatory lending; internet gaming; video gaming machine and device distribution; offshore lottery schemes; high-limit card rooms and underground casinos; and sophisticated bookmaking operations.
