Vancouver man pleads guilty after investigation into illegal gaming

A guilty plea has been entered in connection with a years-long investigation into illegal gaming, police say.

The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit of B.C. (CFSEU-BC) says it launched an investigation into the Big Shots Café, located on Hastings Street East near MacDonald Avenue in Burnaby, in early 2022.

In March 2025, charges were approved against 62-year-old Francisco Batista Pires and 60-year-old Angelo Giuseppe Freda.

On Jan. 7, 2026, Pires — a resident of Vancouver — appeared in court and entered a guilty plea to one count of providing gaming services without being registered as a gaming worker. He was issued a $10,000 fine and a victim fine surcharge of $1,500.

CFSEU-BC says the investigation is intended to help disrupt the criminal networks that profit from illegal gaming.

“Illegal gaming houses are often linked to organized crime and money laundering, creating real risks to public safety and community well-being,” Sgt. Sarbjit Sangha said in a news release.