Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. Even though all the lights were out, she told police that she knew it was Matthew "because the moonlight shined into the room through the large windows that faced the ocean." Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. EIGHT MONTHS AFTER its approval by the City Council, the peach-colored Bay 101 held its "grand opening." Matthew is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. Matthew is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. "I liked my name," he maintains. It wasn't the money, either. "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." I'm on the hook for $15 million. In February 1994, nearly one year after the San Jose City Council gave Bay 101 its blessing, the state denied the Bumbs and their partners' gaming license application. Now that their gaming license had been denied, a decision needed to be made--quickly. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. But there was no gambling done that night. Well, guess what? Toward the end of the call, things got heated. 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. You know the school we went to?" "And I told you that I loved you and you are like a father to me. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. OK--we didn't get out--OK? A nurse was present to monitor his condition. ON AUG. 11, 1995, Jeff sat in his Flea Market office scribbling on a piece of paper, plotting his grand return to his peach palace. 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. But there was no gambling done that night. 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 it was very explicit in there that no Bumbs could have anything to do with the club. 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. But there was no gambling done that night. attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. One of George Bumb Sr.'s granddaughters explained to police that her family was very old-fashioned: "The woman gets the short end of the deal; she is a whore. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. Earlier this year, a month before Venzon was sentenced to 14 years in prison, district attorney investigator Michael Schembri closed out the Venzon case, noting in a court filing, "No new information has been uncovered relating to the murder for hire case [at the Flea Market] which our department investigated several years ago." They recorded the conversation. Well, guess what? 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 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." "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." 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. Seven of George Bumb Sr.'s eight grown children reside in the eastside foothills within a mile or two of their father, often on the same block. Jeff entertained offers to buy the club, the highest bid, he recalls, coming in at $40 million. The couple even had a purchase contract for a $850,000 house on Golf Links Road. 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. AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. At the time, San Jose, like cities throughout the state, was strapped for cash, looking at an $11 million budget shortfall. Unlike other partners, neither Jeff nor Brian had buyback provisions in their written agreements, an intentional omission meant to appease state gaming officials who wanted them out of the picture. They recorded the conversation. VENZON WAS well known to the Bumbs. When Jeff and Brian were denied licenses for Bay 101, Tim (above) and brother George Jr. jumped in. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. 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. Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. The district attorney's office says that Bumb attorney Ron Werner turned the letter over to authorities immediately after it came in the mail. And he [Jeff] wants me to violate the condition which says in it that I sign away my rights and they close us down. 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. And that ain't happening because I can't afford it." Life of Brian: Initially denied a gaming license by the state, Brian Bumb has since received a provisional license and become a partner in Bay 101 with his brothers, Tim and George. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. The district attorney's office says that Bumb attorney Ron Werner turned the letter over to authorities immediately after it came in the mail. But Jeff says the loan dispute screwed up their moving plans. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. "The thing they probably value most is their privacy," Bryant explains. 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. Their pun-afflicted surname adds to the hillbilly mystique. They recorded the conversation. And that ain't happening because I can't afford it." And there were gamblers everywhere who had come looking for some action. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. 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. His crimes included taking valuables from the bereaved family members of dead crime victims while pretending to console them. You think this didn't break my heart?" Don't Shoot: George Bumb Sr., the publicity-shy patriarch of the Bumb family and creator of the Flea Market, in a rare photo which appeared in California Today magazine in 1980. Ultimately, the charges against the older Bumb were reduced to a misdemeanor. Before the end of the month, the Flea Market laid off Jeff's daughters Anne and Rebecca. Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. 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 a very strong family. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. "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." "I mean," Jeff later said at a deposition, "it was a time of hurt and heartache for us--and not my father, not my mother, not my brother George, not my brother Tim, not Brian could care less." Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. 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. But Jeff says that privately he and his brothers had an oral agreement--which Tim Bumb now corroborates--that would one day let him repurchase his shares and become a partner in Bay 101 again. "He worked for me." "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. The district attorney's office says that Bumb attorney Ron Werner turned the letter over to authorities immediately after it came in the mail. she said, referring to the family-run Catholic school at the Flea Market. But Jeff says that privately he and his brothers had an oral agreement--which Tim Bumb now corroborates--that would one day let him repurchase his shares and become a partner in Bay 101 again. He chose the building's peachy-pink paint job, he says, because he wanted "a pleasant, welcoming earth tone." The dolphin fountain at the front entrance is there because he wanted it there--water and fish are good luck. Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. At the time, Jeff was in the midst of negotiating an arrangement to be bought out of the family businesses. 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. Bryant, who acts as emissary for the family and its patriarch, thinks the Bumbs are a misunderstood bunch. The gambling palace Jeff Bumb--the oldest son who is often described as the most entrepreneurial of the four brothers--had in mind was going to take a lot of effort and political skill. Privacy hasn't been so easy to come by for the Bumbs in the '90s, since they got involved in Bay 101. He and his brothers had a plan, he says. George Bumb Jr., the quiet one with a flair for things mechanical, was already at the controls of Air One Helicopter. San Jose; Timothy Bumb; Timothy Bumb, Age 50. Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. You think this didn't break my heart?" 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. "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." The guy doesn't get a slap on the hand." "I did a great job," Bumb says of the sprawling gambling club, furiously chomping on a piece of Wrigley's Doublemint, the gum he chews when he's not sucking on an unfiltered Camel. Even though all the lights were out, she told police that she knew it was Matthew "because the moonlight shined into the room through the large windows that faced the ocean." A blue knit polo shirt covers his stocky 52-year-old frame. Earlier this year, a month before Venzon was sentenced to 14 years in prison, district attorney investigator Michael Schembri closed out the Venzon case, noting in a court filing, "No new information has been uncovered relating to the murder for hire case [at the Flea Market] which our department investigated several years ago." "It's a very strong family. 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. A nurse was present to monitor his condition. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. They recorded the conversation. On Nov. 8, 1995, attorney Albin Danell, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, contacted the police, apparently after consulting with Elizabeth. And it was very explicit in there that no Bumbs could have anything to do with the club. First, Jeff tried to have the Bumb & Associates partnership dissolved after accusing his family of trying to force him out without paying him a fair price. George Bumb Jr., the quiet one with a flair for things mechanical, was already at the controls of Air One Helicopter. During his long tenure at the Flea Market, Venzon apparently developed a close relationship with George Bumb Sr. Other allegations were more dubious: Investigators chased after a tip that the Bumbs were skimming cash from the Flea Market parking lot, an accusation that was never proven. On Nov. 8, 1995, attorney Albin Danell, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, contacted the police, apparently after consulting with Elizabeth. But Jeff Bumb would greatly prefer not to talk about this. "What am I going to say to the vice president?" Christopher Gardner Toward the end of the call, things got heated. 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. And there were gamblers everywhere who had come looking for some action. Earlier this year, a month before Venzon was sentenced to 14 years in prison, district attorney investigator Michael Schembri closed out the Venzon case, noting in a court filing, "No new information has been uncovered relating to the murder for hire case [at the Flea Market] which our department investigated several years ago." 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. Now that their gaming license had been denied, a decision needed to be made--quickly. As legend has it, the Bumbs still send a monthly check to the widow of a former head of security who died of a brain tumor 20 years ago. 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. 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. The state, still busy conducting background checks, still hadn't approved the Bumbs and their partners' gaming licenses. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. You think this didn't break my heart?" ON AUG. 11, 1995, Jeff sat in his Flea Market office scribbling on a piece of paper, plotting his grand return to his peach palace. He also runs day-to-day operations at the family-owned Flea Market. One month later, the state attorney general's office made a devastating announcement: Authorities had come across issues of "such magnitude" and "concern" that they would need at least another month to decide if gambling should be allowed at Bay 101. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. Over the years, he had developed working relationships with the city's politicians and bureaucrats. And then, just when it seemed as though family relations couldn't get any worse, they did. "And I told you that I loved you and you are like a father to me. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. It's like we had no life except for the family." But there was no gambling done that night. In the last five years, the Bumb family and its enterprises have been investigated for illegal political campaign contributions, an alleged profit-skimming racket out at the Berryessa Flea Market and even a murder-for-hire scheme involving Johnny Venzon, a former cop, convicted thief and gambling addict. 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. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. Tim and George, under pressure from then Police Chief Lou Cobarruviaz, had already signed an agreement a year earlier that prohibited Brian, Jeff and their father from having anything to do with the card room. Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. And then there's the stuff that never made it into headlines, like the alleged murder-for-hire plot out at the Flea Market. I'm on the hook for $15 million. Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. Their pun-afflicted surname adds to the hillbilly mystique. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. One of George Bumb Sr.'s granddaughters explained to police that her family was very old-fashioned: "The woman gets the short end of the deal; she is a whore. But Jeff Bumb hasn't made a penny from the club since it opened in September 1994. She told police about at least seven other sexual encounters she had with her cousin after that. Email: [email protected] Contact: Age: 66; Gender: Female; Net Worth: . I'm on the hook for $15 million. Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. "My wife broke the code," he says, "and I supported her." Or at least he thought he didn't. Matthew is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. 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. 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. She recalled that she was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt covered by a blanket. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. Ultimately, Jeff says with resignation, he hopes I find the truth, "not my truth, not their truth, just the truth." As we do our drive-by on a Tuesday midmorning, there are more than 100 cars in the parking lot. 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. And for nearly a month, they did. 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. OK--we didn't get out--OK? "He took care of it." Christopher Gardner She told police about at least seven other sexual encounters she had with her cousin after that. 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. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. 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. During his long tenure at the Flea Market, Venzon apparently developed a close relationship with George Bumb Sr. They recorded the conversation. Unlike other partners, neither Jeff nor Brian had buyback provisions in their written agreements, an intentional omission meant to appease state gaming officials who wanted them out of the picture. Christopher Gardner And then, just when it seemed as though family relations couldn't get any worse, they did. Still Standing: Jeff Bumb, Bay 101's ostracized founder, boasts that despite various local, state and federal investigations over the years he has emerged squeaky clean. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. 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. "He worked for me." I'm on the hook for $15 million. Christopher Gardner And it was very explicit in there that no Bumbs could have anything to do with the club. "I'm a big boy." He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. The ensuing delay forced Jeff Bumb to lay off 600 workers he had hired. 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. "Hell, no," George Bumb replied. 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. He and his brothers had a plan, he says. At the time, Jeff was in the midst of negotiating an arrangement to be bought out of the family businesses. George Bumb Jr., the quiet one with a flair for things mechanical, was already at the controls of Air One Helicopter. Jeff didn't mind, though. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. So Jeff, Brian and the remaining non-family partners backed out of Bay 101, handing everything over to Tim and George Jr. First, Jeff tried to have the Bumb & Associates partnership dissolved after accusing his family of trying to force him out without paying him a fair price. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. VENZON WAS well known to the Bumbs. Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. Life of Brian: Initially denied a gaming license by the state, Brian Bumb has since received a provisional license and become a partner in Bay 101 with his brothers, Tim and George. Matthew Bumb's attorney argued that the relationship was consensual. The ensuing delay forced Jeff Bumb to lay off 600 workers he had hired. The state, still busy conducting background checks, still hadn't approved the Bumbs and their partners' gaming licenses. "We made it very clear to Jeff and everybody else concerned," Tim says, "that I'm not going to stick my neck on the line here. The gambling palace Jeff Bumb--the oldest son who is often described as the most entrepreneurial of the four brothers--had in mind was going to take a lot of effort and political skill. And it was very explicit in there that no Bumbs could have anything to do with the club. 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. "They didn't teach anything about this. 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. Christopher Gardner The couple even had a purchase contract for a $850,000 house on Golf Links Road. Jeff signed a deal with his brothers that prohibited him from owning Bay 101 stock until he got all the necessary licenses.