Federal Court Appearances for La Catedral Racetrack Raid Suspects
Three individuals involved in the federal raid at La Catedral Racetrack in Wilder made appearances in federal court on Monday. They are accused of being involved in an illegal gambling operation at the racetrack. The raid, which took place on Sunday, resulted in the detention of 105 individuals and was part of an ongoing investigation into illegal horse racing and gambling at the track. Five people, including Ivan Tellez, Dayana Fajardo, Samuel Bejarano Coolin, Alejandro Torres Estrada, and Cesar Oroszco, are facing federal charges related to the illegal gambling business.
Ivan Tellez, the owner of La Catedral Racetrack, appeared in court for the first time and was charged with operating an illegal gambling business. Tellez, a Mexican national living legally in the United States, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. He was granted pretrial release with conditions that include staying in Idaho, avoiding contact with co-defendants, and refraining from excessive drug or alcohol use.
Samuel Bejarano Coolin, who is married to Dayana Fajardo, will remain in federal custody due to concerns about flight risk. Bejarano Coolin, who is not authorized to be in the United States, has a history of failing to appear for hearings and ignoring court orders. He faces the same gambling charge as the other defendants and will be held pending a detention hearing on Oct. 28.
Alejandro Torres Estrada also appeared in court and was granted release under supervision. Despite concerns about his prior deportation proceeding and alleged involvement in taking and collecting bets at the racetrack, the judge determined that he did not pose a serious flight risk. Estrada's next hearing is scheduled for Oct. 28.
The remaining defendants, Cesar Oroszco and Dayana Fajardo, are expected to appear in court on Wednesday. The federal raid and subsequent court appearances are part of a larger investigation into illegal gambling activities at La Catedral Racetrack in Wilder.