State Street business hosted illegal gambling; was a ‘hub for crime’, police say
Jan 22, 2025, 6:40 PM | Updated: 6:59 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — Police on Wednesday announced they had disrupted an illegal gambling operation at a State Street business and said the location was increasingly becoming a “hub for crime.”
Salt Lake City police chief Mike Brown said an extensive undercover investigation resulted in the raid of My Podzzz, 1480 S. State St., and the arrest of the owner, 42-year-old Ryan Delahuerta.
According to investigators, officers executed a search warrant Tuesday night at My Podzzz as well as Urban Pawn in Murray, 4791 S. State St. Officers seized a combined $56,000 in cash as well as two guns, three gambling machines and amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl and marijuana products.
Police alleged that money from illegal gambling at My Podzzz was being funneled to Urban Pawn.
“To the residents and businesses of Ballpark, you deserve a safe community,” Brown said. “We have heard your concerns about crime in this area, and we have taken action. This takedown is just beginning.”
The outside of My Podzzz in Salt Lake City’s Ballpark neighborhood. (KSL TV)
Delahuerta was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail on suspicion of misdemeanor gambling or allowing gambling, gambling promotion, possession of a gambling device/record and fringe gaming devices.
Police said the immediate area surrounding the business had seen recent incidents, including aggravated assaults, robberies, burglaries, and even threats and stalking.
“We will not tolerate crime. We will not let criminals take over our neighborhoods,” Brown said. “We will not stop until our communities are safe.”
Chief Mike Brown speaking outside of My Podzzz on Wednesday. (KSL TV)
Multiple neighbors of the business told KSL TV they had concerns about the business and those hanging around it.
“We were always a little worried about, you know, our safety and our property’s existence,” said one worker who asked not to be identified.
The worker said he had witnessed a significant uptick in traffic surrounding My Podzzz.
“We’d see people sitting out front, cars lined up on the sidewalk we never saw previously,” the worker said. “They advertise it as like a ‘safe place,’ and they were charging somewhat by the hour for people to come in, and I guess it was kind of an, almost, internet café.”
An in-person attempt to reach out to My Podzzz for comment resulted in a “no” from those on-site.
The worker said he was grateful police intervened.
“When we saw the type of people and cars that were lined up here at some odd hours, it seemed suspicious,” he said. “It seemed like something was going on. We couldn’t quite put our finger on it, but it’s nice to know it’s not going to be that way anymore.”
