On March 17, 1993, the City Council gave Bumb and his partners the green light to open a 40-table card room on a 10-acre plot of land off U.S 101. The court saga evolved into a battle of wills between a father--a man who wouldn't even let the Vatican tell him what to do--and his oldest son, determined to break free from the old man's grasp. Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed. You think this didn't break my heart?" But Jeff says the loan dispute screwed up their moving plans. The air conditioning is on, but beads of sweat surface on Bumb's forehead, between a pair of fierce-looking blue eyes and a receding blonde hairline. When he was jailed, the desperate cop wrote a 15-page handwritten letter in pencil to George Bumb in May 1997 asking the Flea Market owner to bail him out. When Jeff and Brian were denied licenses for Bay 101, Tim (above) and brother George Jr. jumped in. Christopher Gardner According to Werner, molestation of his daughter became part of a laundry list of damning things Jeff threatened to disclose if his buy-out demands weren't met. When Werner broke the news that Jeff's brothers wouldn't write a letter on his behalf, he says Jeff became furious. And then there's the stuff that never made it into headlines, like the alleged murder-for-hire plot out at the Flea Market. But Jeff and his family started hearing that instead of showing concern and support for his daughter, George Bumb Sr. and others in the family were blaming his freshman daughter for the incident and not her adult-age cousin. Deputy chief Tom Wheatley says that police wondered if Venzon, or someone, destroyed the barrel to prevent a ballistics test from tracing a fired bullet to the gun. Police reports would suggest she had, "for about a year," been giving "blow jobs" to 19-year-old Matthew Bumb, son of George Bumb Jr. And then police remembered the old rumors about a murder plot at the Flea Market, where Venzon had worked as a security guard for more than 15 years. Realizing that, Jeff offered to pay higher card-room taxes (next year the city expects to collect $4.5 million from Bay 101) and pick up the tab for security. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. George Bumb Sr.'s loan-repayment demands came in July 1996, just as his oldest son and his wife were about to move to Los Gatos and break away from the family and its eastside enclave. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. Behind the scenes, the Bumbs suspected their potential gambling competitors and a disgruntled former Flea Market employee of giving investigators unsubstantiated material to use against them. When family patriarch and Flea Market mastermind George Bumb Sr. was invited to attend a party with President Clinton in San Francisco a couple of years ago, he refused to go and sent his community relations specialist, Betsy Bryant, instead. Snow White or Cinderella? But the Bumbs are hardly traditional political players. But Jeff and his family started hearing that instead of showing concern and support for his daughter, George Bumb Sr. and others in the family were blaming his freshman daughter for the incident and not her adult-age cousin. It's very tightknit," says Bryant, adding that the senior Bumb doesn't give interviews--ever. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) He also pulled off an armed robbery of the Aloha Roller Palace. Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. The day before, Monday at noon, half of the club's tables were full of gamblers playing seven card stud, Omaha and Texas Hold 'Em. Though authorities were never able to prove a paid snuff plot, Jeff Bumb believes the allegations were a factor contributing to authorities' mistrust of him. Behind the scenes, the Bumbs suspected their potential gambling competitors and a disgruntled former Flea Market employee of giving investigators unsubstantiated material to use against them. EIGHT MONTHS AFTER its approval by the City Council, the peach-colored Bay 101 held its "grand opening." At the time, San Jose, like cities throughout the state, was strapped for cash, looking at an $11 million budget shortfall. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. Soon after his confession, the word started spreading in the family about what happened. Though authorities were never able to prove a paid snuff plot, Jeff Bumb believes the allegations were a factor contributing to authorities' mistrust of him. Jeff was also getting word from his nieces and nephews that his father said at a family poker game: "If it was up to him, all the grandchildren would marry each other." Though authorities were never able to prove a paid snuff plot, Jeff Bumb believes the allegations were a factor contributing to authorities' mistrust of him. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. And for nearly a month, they did. Jeff Bumb says he believes that state and local investigators at the time of Bay 101's limbo were investigating a rumor that Jeff had tried to get someone killed, a charge Jeff denies. You know the school we went to?" Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. OK--we didn't get out--OK? It wasn't the idea of gambling. Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. And that ain't happening because I can't afford it." AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. It's like we had no life except for the family." He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. Originally he was scheduled for questioning on March 10, 1997, but the old man's lawyers explained that their client was extremely ill, suffering from "severe life-threatening conditions," practically on his death bed. And Brian, the handsome and gregarious youngest brother, was in charge of day-to-day operations at the Flea Market. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. A FEW DAYS AFTER returning from his son's Oct. 13, 1995, military graduation in San Diego, Jeff and his wife, Elizabeth, got some appalling news: Their 14-year-old daughter had been involved in a sexual relationship with an older male cousin. Christopher Gardner (That thing that involved Jeff when Bay 101 was scheduled to open but didn't.)" He also pulled off an armed robbery of the Aloha Roller Palace. He started telling people around the office that he wanted out of the family business. Werner said no. It's very tightknit," says Bryant, adding that the senior Bumb doesn't give interviews--ever. At the time, Jeff was in the midst of negotiating an arrangement to be bought out of the family businesses. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. Tim and George Jr. worried that pressuring state and city officials to deal Jeff back in at Bay 101 would backfire and authorities would close down the card room. EIGHT MONTHS AFTER its approval by the City Council, the peach-colored Bay 101 held its "grand opening." According to Jeff, there was tremendous pressure from his father and others in the family to keep the incest a secret. Over the years, he had developed working relationships with the city's politicians and bureaucrats. Christopher Gardner Police reports would suggest she had, "for about a year," been giving "blow jobs" to 19-year-old Matthew Bumb, son of George Bumb Jr. "Jeff is a wheeler and dealer," explained his Uncle John, the Flea Market's executive vice president and owner of the Skeeball Arcade. OK--we didn't get out--OK? The ensuing delay forced Jeff Bumb to lay off 600 workers he had hired. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. "Could he [Jeff] do any other work on his own behalf?" "And when I visited you at your home I told you that other than God you are the only person I've gotten down on my knees for," Venzon says on page 7. I'm on the hook for $15 million. As a compromise of sorts, he was debating whether he should apply for a license as a gaming-club manager instead of as an owner. Bryant, who acts as emissary for the family and its patriarch, thinks the Bumbs are a misunderstood bunch. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. "And I told you that I loved you and you are like a father to me. According to Werner, molestation of his daughter became part of a laundry list of damning things Jeff threatened to disclose if his buy-out demands weren't met. Originally he was scheduled for questioning on March 10, 1997, but the old man's lawyers explained that their client was extremely ill, suffering from "severe life-threatening conditions," practically on his death bed. Behind the scenes, the Bumbs suspected their potential gambling competitors and a disgruntled former Flea Market employee of giving investigators unsubstantiated material to use against them. But he didn't cash out. In fact, on the day he was arrested, records show that Venzon pawned a 14-karat-gold diamond cluster ring and a ladies' gold tennis bracelet for a total of $298 at American Precious Metals, a jewelry store at the Flea Market run by Joseph Bumb. You think this didn't break my heart?" she said, referring to the family-run Catholic school at the Flea Market. Over the years, he had developed working relationships with the city's politicians and bureaucrats. George Bumb Sr., an avid card player, held a regular weekly family poker game at his home. News - Market Park San Jose At one point in the investigation, sheriff's detectives had Jeff's daughter call Matthew while he was working at the Flea Market to confirm the sexual activities. AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. Originally he was scheduled for questioning on March 10, 1997, but the old man's lawyers explained that their client was extremely ill, suffering from "severe life-threatening conditions," practically on his death bed. He was also the kind of guy, police records reveal, who told his mother about the incidents "because he felt guilty." Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. Christopher Gardner Christopher Gardner Christopher Gardner A FEW DAYS AFTER returning from his son's Oct. 13, 1995, military graduation in San Diego, Jeff and his wife, Elizabeth, got some appalling news: Their 14-year-old daughter had been involved in a sexual relationship with an older male cousin. Some improprieties did turn up: Bumb & Associates, a partnership including the four brothers and their father, had failed to file required reports disclosing more than $100,000 in political contributions made between 1989 and 1992. Jeff Bumb remembers that when he was going to school at Bellarmine in the '60s, the other kids would call him things like "Bumbsy" or "Bumbo." "They didn't teach anything about this. Jeff Bumb later explained to the press that they didn't know partnerships were required to file such reports, and they paid the state a $1,250 fine. And it was very explicit in there that no Bumbs could have anything to do with the club. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. But Jeff says the loan dispute screwed up their moving plans. Just so everyone got the point, Jeff Bumb announced to the press that he and Brian were divesting from Bay 101, and records show he eventually sold his shares for $1.4 million. He started telling people around the office that he wanted out of the family business. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. You know the school we went to?" Eight days after the molestation incident was reported to police--and one day after Jeff Bumb formally refused his father's $6.9 million buyout offer--George Bumb Sr. sent Jeff a curt typewritten memo informing Jeff that he was terminated effective immediately and had to clean out his desk before 5pm. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. But his dream, which now seemed so close to being a reality, was about to become a nightmare. "They didn't teach anything about this. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. And for nearly a month, they did. "My issue with [George Bumb Sr.]," Jeff Bumb complains about his father, "was his control of where you lived, what kind of house you bought, where your children went to school, who your friends are, whether your children went to college, who they would marry, what kind of wedding they would have." Christopher Gardner It did the unthinkable: He also runs day-to-day operations at the family-owned Flea Market. They recorded the conversation. She recalled that she was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt covered by a blanket. At one point in the investigation, sheriff's detectives had Jeff's daughter call Matthew while he was working at the Flea Market to confirm the sexual activities. George Bumb Jr., the quiet one with a flair for things mechanical, was already at the controls of Air One Helicopter. About 20 percent of the 130 students there are Bumb relatives.) As we do our drive-by on a Tuesday midmorning, there are more than 100 cars in the parking lot. "Could he [Jeff] do any other work on his own behalf?" The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. Well, George, whether you want to believe it or not I do love you and you are like a father to me." In response to Jeff's legal attacks, George Bumb Sr. and Bumb & Associates filed two separate suits of their own to collect nearly $1 million in loans and interest they claimed Jeff never paid. That promised to be a hard sell to the San Jose City Council, which would have to authorize both the new site and the expansion. she said, referring to the family-run Catholic school at the Flea Market. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. The two, she said, never talked about what was going on while it was happening. And then there's the stuff that never made it into headlines, like the alleged murder-for-hire plot out at the Flea Market. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. Published: Jan. 24, 2021 at 12:10 PM PST. Tim Bumb says writing a letter on Jeff's behalf would have violated the agreement with the police chief and put the club in jeopardy. "My wife broke the code," he says, "and I supported her." According to Werner, molestation of his daughter became part of a laundry list of damning things Jeff threatened to disclose if his buy-out demands weren't met. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. Realizing that, Jeff offered to pay higher card-room taxes (next year the city expects to collect $4.5 million from Bay 101) and pick up the tab for security. EVERY DAY THE CLUB stayed closed, the Bumbs lost more money. attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. she said, referring to the family-run Catholic school at the Flea Market. Well, guess what? The two, she said, never talked about what was going on while it was happening. Meanwhile, Jeff and his lawyers spent 15 months trying get his father to appear at a deposition.
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