"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. Before the end of the month, the Flea Market laid off Jeff's daughters Anne and Rebecca. Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. Jeff entertained offers to buy the club, the highest bid, he recalls, coming in at $40 million. 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. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. 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. Campaign records show that Bumb & Associates and Bay 101 have made at least $587,000 in campaign donations since 1994 to local and state politicians and ballot measures. He and his brothers had a plan, he says. 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. After learning of the incident, Jeff and wife Elizabeth did not report the matter to police immediately. "Could he [Jeff] do any other work on his own behalf?" Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. 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. During the Venzon investigation, San Jose police dug up an old file from November 1990 in which Venzon, a sheriff's deputy, had reported his department-issued Smith & Wesson 9 mm automatic stolen. Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. But he didn't cash out. The investigation was given a shot in the arm after the arrest of Johnny Venzon in 1997, a cop who made headlines for burglarizing homes while on duty to pay for his mounting gambling debts. Werner said no. He was also the kind of guy, police records reveal, who told his mother about the incidents "because he felt guilty." 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. OK--we didn't get out--OK? When Werner broke the news that Jeff's brothers wouldn't write a letter on his behalf, he says Jeff became furious. But Jeff says the loan dispute screwed up their moving plans. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. 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. 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. 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. Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. 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. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) So Jeff, Brian and the remaining non-family partners backed out of Bay 101, handing everything over to Tim and George Jr. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. VENZON WAS well known to the Bumbs. In a fit, he took the paper he was writing on, crumpled it up and threw it out the office door. attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. "Could he [Jeff] do any other work on his own behalf?" 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. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. You think this didn't break my heart?" 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. And he [Jeff] wants me to violate the condition which says in it that I sign away my rights and they close us down. "He worked for me." Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed. "I don't need their help," he barked at Werner. Today, Bumb family enterprises include the local Premium Pet Stores chain, Air One Helicopters and, of course, Bay 101. She told police about at least seven other sexual encounters she had with her cousin after that. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. And for nearly a month, they did. And then, just when it seemed as though family relations couldn't get any worse, they did. The guy doesn't get a slap on the hand." 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. But he didn't cash out. 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. When Jeff and Brian were denied licenses for Bay 101, Tim (above) and brother George Jr. jumped in. 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. They recorded the conversation. 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. attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. Bumb family attorney Ron Werner suggested that Jeff and his family had a hidden motive for waiting nearly a month to report the incident to police. 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. 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. He started telling people around the office that he wanted out of the family business. 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. I'm on the hook for $15 million. There were flowers everywhere. 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. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. 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. Within weeks, Jeff says, his six-month-old dog was dead, his cat was dead and the tires of a family car were slashed. He and his brothers had a plan, he says. And for nearly a month, they did. View more. He was also the kind of guy, police records reveal, who told his mother about the incidents "because he felt guilty." She told police about at least seven other sexual encounters she had with her cousin after that. When Vice President Al Gore called to personally invite the elder Bumb to a fundraiser at the Los Altos home of real estate magnate George Marcus, Bumb put the VP on hold for several minutes, ultimately making Betsy take the call. "He worked for me." Tim, the second youngest of George Bumb's four boys, was already running the family toy business, Fact Games, and Premium Pet Stores. In fact, Tim and George had to agree not to collaborate with other Bumbs on any new business venture. Soon after his confession, the word started spreading in the family about what happened. You think this didn't break my heart?" When Vice President Al Gore called to personally invite the elder Bumb to a fundraiser at the Los Altos home of real estate magnate George Marcus, Bumb put the VP on hold for several minutes, ultimately making Betsy take the call. Bumb family attorney Ron Werner suggested that Jeff and his family had a hidden motive for waiting nearly a month to report the incident to police. Matthew is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. On Nov. 8, 1995, attorney Albin Danell, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, contacted the police, apparently after consulting with Elizabeth. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. Well, guess what? "I'm a big boy." But there was no gambling done that night. 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 the Venzon investigation, San Jose police dug up an old file from November 1990 in which Venzon, a sheriff's deputy, had reported his department-issued Smith & Wesson 9 mm automatic stolen. He also pulled off an armed robbery of the Aloha Roller Palace. Bumb family attorney Ron Werner suggested that Jeff and his family had a hidden motive for waiting nearly a month to report the incident to police. She recalled that she was dressed in shorts and a T-shirt covered by a blanket. Christopher Gardner 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. The ensuing delay forced Jeff Bumb to lay off 600 workers he had hired. And Brian, the handsome and gregarious youngest brother, was in charge of day-to-day operations at the Flea Market. During the Venzon investigation, San Jose police dug up an old file from November 1990 in which Venzon, a sheriff's deputy, had reported his department-issued Smith & Wesson 9 mm automatic stolen. Jeff entertained offers to buy the club, the highest bid, he recalls, coming in at $40 million. (That thing that involved Jeff when Bay 101 was scheduled to open but didn't.)" The guy doesn't get a slap on the hand." 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. 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. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. 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. They recorded the conversation. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. Ultimately, the charges against the older Bumb were reduced to a misdemeanor. 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. He was also the kind of guy, police records reveal, who told his mother about the incidents "because he felt guilty." He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. On Nov. 8, 1995, attorney Albin Danell, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, contacted the police, apparently after consulting with Elizabeth. 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. There were flowers everywhere. 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. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. Three years ago, the Mercury News listed the Bumb family in the Top 10 of the valley's most generous political contributors. "He worked for me." He and his brothers had a plan, he says. "Hell, no," George Bumb replied. 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. 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. And as with any divorce, embarrassing private details about the family and its businesses made their way into the public record. And then there's the stuff that never made it into headlines, like the alleged murder-for-hire plot out at the Flea Market. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. The teenagers had been drinking booze earlier in the night. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed. Christopher Gardner But Jeff Bumb hasn't made a penny from the club since it opened in September 1994. He followed that with suits alleging breach of contract, wrongful termination and misrepresentation. "I don't need their help," he barked at Werner. You know the school we went to?" Now that their gaming license had been denied, a decision needed to be made--quickly. The two, she said, never talked about what was going on while it was happening. The two, she said, never talked about what was going on while it was happening. Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. He and his brothers had a plan, he says. Ultimately, the charges against the older Bumb were reduced to a misdemeanor. When Werner broke the news that Jeff's brothers wouldn't write a letter on his behalf, he says Jeff became furious. "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." 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. When the Vatican eliminated Latin from the Catholic mass in the '60s, George Bumb Sr. responded by building his own chapel, named for the rebellious St. Athanasius, at the base of Mt. 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. And for nearly a month, they did. Finally, in July 1994, the state cleared Tim and George and gave them a conditional OK to let the games begin. VENZON WAS well known to the Bumbs. It did the unthinkable: attorney Frank Ubhaus asked the Bumb patriarch. At the time, Jeff was in the midst of negotiating an arrangement to be bought out of the family businesses. The elder Bumb may not have been feeling well, but he wasn't too sick to remember who was boss in this family. "Hell, no," George Bumb replied. He also pulled off an armed robbery of the Aloha Roller Palace. "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 is the kind of guy a relative described to police as "polite," the guy parents wanted their daughters to date. 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. And Brian, the handsome and gregarious youngest brother, was in charge of day-to-day operations at the Flea Market. You think this didn't break my heart?" (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) At the time, Jeff was in the midst of negotiating an arrangement to be bought out of the family businesses. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. "My wife broke the code," he says, "and I supported her." Ultimately, the charges against the older Bumb were reduced to a misdemeanor. 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. A nurse was present to monitor his condition. VENZON WAS well known to the Bumbs. 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." And Jeff himself had been playing poker since he was 12. "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." (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) 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. 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. Before the end of the month, the Flea Market laid off Jeff's daughters Anne and Rebecca. 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. And for nearly a month, they did. 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. They recorded the conversation. And it was very explicit in there that no Bumbs could have anything to do with the club. Initially, police filed felony charges against Matthew Bumb for having oral sex with a minor and penetrating her with his fingers. For all his quirks and controlling behavior, the old man is regarded as a benefactor by most family members and some Flea Market employees who know their boss to be capable of great generosity. If all this weren't enough, a sexual relationship between his 14-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old Bumb cousin was reported to police, slicing the family's cherished privacy wide open for the world to see. EIGHT MONTHS AFTER its approval by the City Council, the peach-colored Bay 101 held its "grand opening." 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. He was also the kind of guy, police records reveal, who told his mother about the incidents "because he felt guilty." The Bumbs had a plenty of experience with a cash business through the Flea Market, which they've run for almost 40 years. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. 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. Preventive Medicine: George Bumb Jr. is a co-owner of Bay 101, where a snakebite kit is kept on-hand as a family joke. 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 demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. Christopher Gardner The Bumbs had a plenty of experience with a cash business through the Flea Market, which they've run for almost 40 years. Before the end of the month, the Flea Market laid off Jeff's daughters Anne and Rebecca. `He drives by every day on his way to his Maverick Consulting development business in Mountain View, but he never gets off the Brokaw/First Street exit to pay a visit. ALL TOGETHER, the intrafamily litigation has spanned nearly three years. Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. Now that their gaming license had been denied, a decision needed to be made--quickly. Werner said no. The district attorney's office says that Bumb attorney Ron Werner turned the letter over to authorities immediately after it came in the mail. There were flowers everywhere. Of the four brothers, Tim and George had faced the least resistance from state gaming officials. He was also the kind of guy, police records reveal, who told his mother about the incidents "because he felt guilty." And Jeff himself had been playing poker since he was 12. He and his brothers had a plan, he says. Near the end Venzon writes, "They want to bring up the 'murder-for-hire' investigation again. Meanwhile, Jeff and his lawyers spent 15 months trying get his father to appear at a deposition. "My wife broke the code," he says, "and I supported her." OK--we didn't get out--OK? The only reason we are driving around in his Lexus today is because he knows I have read the bizarre and bitter contents of a 2-foot-high stack of documents down at the Santa Clara County Superior Courthouse. It wasn't the idea of gambling. 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. But there was no gambling done that night. Over the years, he had developed working relationships with the city's politicians and bureaucrats. 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. 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. 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. Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. Jeff tells the story differently: "Matthew was my godson. The guy doesn't get a slap on the hand." But he didn't cash out. 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. It's like we had no life except for the family." Along the way, Jeff raised the ante, hiring Frank Ubhaus, a lawyer who represented Garden City card club, Bay 101's crosstown rival. Christopher Gardner AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. The teenagers had been drinking booze earlier in the night. Jeff's grandfather, Frank Bumb, had met his wife, Mary, at a card parlor in San Francisco where they worked. Soon after his confession, the word started spreading in the family about what happened. 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. (In one case, George Bumb Sr. loaned Jeff $31,250 in 1992 for his son to invest in Bay 101.) It's like we had no life except for the family." "He worked for me." 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. At the time, Jeff was in the midst of negotiating an arrangement to be bought out of the family businesses. 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. 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. Almost four months later, on July 21, 1998, George Bumb Sr. appeared in the downtown offices of Berliner Cohen to have his deposition taken. 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. AN ATTORNEY involved likened the whole contentious affair to a divorce. Toward the end of the call, things got heated. 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. Ultimately, the charges against the older Bumb were reduced to a misdemeanor. Christopher Gardner Christopher Gardner 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." (That thing that involved Jeff when Bay 101 was scheduled to open but didn't.)" 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. Their pun-afflicted surname adds to the hillbilly mystique. 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. "I'm a big boy." Joe Bumb, cousin of Brian Bumb, owns American Precious Metals, an open-air store within the flea market that sells mostly jewelry. About 20 percent of the 130 students there are Bumb relatives.) If all this weren't enough, a sexual relationship between his 14-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old Bumb cousin was reported to police, slicing the family's cherished privacy wide open for the world to see. Jeff's daughter interrupted Matthew and said, "And I didn't know better. 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. The card club has done more than bring unwanted public scrutiny to this insular group. Tim and George Jr. would appeal and reapply, the hope being that the club would open as soon as possible. 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. 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. He demanded $10 million from his brothers to compensate him for violating the purported secret Bay 101 deal. 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. 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." he asked. Well, guess what? But Jeff says the loan dispute screwed up their moving plans. He also disputes that such a letter was even necessary for Jeff to get licensed.