Federal Agents Raid Idaho Horse Arena, Make Illegal Gambling, Immigration Arrests
Federal agents descended on a horse arena in Wilder, Idaho on Sunday, as part of a law enforcement raid on an unlicensed gambling operation that also netted a number of immigration detentions.
The raid on the La Catedral Arena stemmed from a tip received in February of 2025 about an unlicensed betting operation and followed the filing of federal criminal charges against the property owner Ivan Tellez on Oct 15.
Four men were arrested by the FBI, including Tellez, Samuel Bejarano, Dayana Fajardo, and Alejandro Estrada—all of whom were charged with running the illegal wagering business.
Tellez is accused of running an unlicensed parimutuel betting operation at his facility despite his permit from the Idaho Racing Commission specifically prohibiting parimutuel events.
He faces one count of conducting an illegal gambling business under federal law, according to a criminal complaint filed Oct. 15 in U.S. District Court in Boise.
If convicted, Tellez could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.
More than 200 law enforcement personnel from federal, state and local agencies took part in Sunday’s raid which also included participation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
Witnesses to the raid report that ICE detained at least 50 and possibly as many as 100 people for immigration processing although immigration attorney Nikki Ramirez told KTVB television that some undocumented people were released while other detainees were taken to Boise or Mountain Home for processing.
The immigration enforcement actions drew criticism from ACLU and immigration attorneys concerned that families were being separated and that detainees could be transferred to Seattle, Las Vegas, New Mexico or elsewhere in the country.
Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI stated, “”Illegal gambling isn’t a victimless crime. These operations can create an increase in violent crime, drug activity, and violence, putting communities at risk. I’m grateful for the collaboration and partnerships on the federal, state, and local level. Together, we’re working to keep our communities safe.”
The raid on the La Catedral Arena stemmed from a tip received in February of 2025 about an unlicensed betting operation and followed the filing of federal criminal charges against the property owner Ivan Tellez on Oct 15.
Four men were arrested by the FBI, including Tellez, Samuel Bejarano, Dayana Fajardo, and Alejandro Estrada—all of whom were charged with running the illegal wagering business.
Tellez is accused of running an unlicensed parimutuel betting operation at his facility despite his permit from the Idaho Racing Commission specifically prohibiting parimutuel events.
He faces one count of conducting an illegal gambling business under federal law, according to a criminal complaint filed Oct. 15 in U.S. District Court in Boise.
If convicted, Tellez could face up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, a $250,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.
More than 200 law enforcement personnel from federal, state and local agencies took part in Sunday’s raid which also included participation by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
Witnesses to the raid report that ICE detained at least 50 and possibly as many as 100 people for immigration processing although immigration attorney Nikki Ramirez told KTVB television that some undocumented people were released while other detainees were taken to Boise or Mountain Home for processing.
The immigration enforcement actions drew criticism from ACLU and immigration attorneys concerned that families were being separated and that detainees could be transferred to Seattle, Las Vegas, New Mexico or elsewhere in the country.
Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls of the Salt Lake City FBI stated, “”Illegal gambling isn’t a victimless crime. These operations can create an increase in violent crime, drug activity, and violence, putting communities at risk. I’m grateful for the collaboration and partnerships on the federal, state, and local level. Together, we’re working to keep our communities safe.”
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