Sunday, March 25, 2007

SPOKANE, Wash. The Washington State Gambling Commission is seeking to revoke
the license of a Spokane Valley card room security officer because of his
ties with the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle club. Frank S. Nakayama, a
security supervisor at Ringo's Little Vegas Casino was seen on casino
surveillance tapes wearing his club "colors" in the card room. Because the
Hells Angels is considered a "criminal offender cartel," members are not
allowed to work in the state's tightly regulated gambling industry. Gary
Drumheller, the commission's Eastern Region manager, says the 42-year-old
Nakayama has until April 6th to respond to the charges and request a hearing
before a state administrative law judge. Nakayama had been the vice
president and acting-president of the Washington Nomad Chapter of the Hells
Angels in Spokane. The club's president, Richard "Smilin' Rick" Fabel, and
three other current or former members are on trial on racketeering charges
in U.S. District Court in Seattle. Nakayama is not a defendant in that
trial. As a security supervisor, Nakayama had access to the office where
casino cash is counted. He also had access to casino gaming chips and cards,
the cashiers cage and credit slips, the accounting office and records.