San Francisco store owner ordered to pay $151,000 for illegal gambling and drugs

A San Francisco court has ordered Mohsen Mused, the owner of the former Tenderloin Market and Deli, to pay $151,000 in penalties following a civil lawsuit. The city prevailed in the suit, which alleged the business at 200 Leavenworth Street operated as a hub for illegal activity.

Authorities reported that the establishment hosted illegal gambling machines, including electronic slot machines, and sold drug paraphernalia and illegal substances. A 2024 police raid resulted in the seizure of slot machines, a loaded firearm, and cash. The store was also accused of selling items used to smoke methamphetamine and crack cocaine to minors.

City Attorney David Chiu stated that the store acted as a magnet for illegal activity and noted that Mused had made disparaging remarks about the neighborhood, referring to the Tenderloin as a ‘human zoo’ and its residents as ‘animals’. In addition to the financial penalty, Mused is court-ordered to ensure his other businesses do not possess gambling devices or drug paraphernalia.