JSO Union Chief Nelson Cuba and other arrested for racketeering?

[copperfiend]

And now the Lt Gov has resigned......

http://jacksonville.com/news/2013-03-13/story/florida-lt-gov-jennifer-carroll-resigns

THat deserves it's own thread. This is an incredibly interesting story.

[Dog Walker]

Chris is a lawyer with extensive experience with "internet cafes" and the rules for gaming activities by non-profit organizations.

Chris, it is my understanding that these internet cafes are operating under the same laws that allow churches to run bingo games and raffles.  My understanding of this prosecution is that Allied Veterans became a de-facto for-profit entity by retaining all of the profits and that it is not about the nature of the machines.

Am I not understanding this correctly?

[Ocklawaha]

The original search warrant is out of Oklahoma!

Well there's your problem, right there!

[Cheshire Cat]

Chris, I understand what you are saying but investigations like these are undertaken with serious considerations to proof and in some cases involve shadowing individuals and actually catching them involved in a questionable activity.   This particular investigation took "six years".  This much time behind the investigation can sometimes mean that some persons of authority have been linked to it and in order to get a prosecution, they need serious facts before the indictment.

It is my understanding that the "Internet Cafe's" are working under different requirements than the churches.  The online cafes were promoted as a sweepstakes under a different requirement than the churches.  I will see if I can find my old notes from years back that explained this more thoroughly.  I can't remember it off hand.

What keeps coming to my mind is that fact that there has been an ongoing fight over closing down the cafe's at the "State" level.  Jennifer Carrol has exerted her will at the state level on a number of issues and this may just be one of them, hence her association with the Allied Veterans of the World hastens her departure. 

[JeffreyS]

My guess is they would have taken extra care before pursuing the case all the way to the Governor's office.

[Cheshire Cat]

This is just one of many of Jennifer Carrol's political sins.  She is her own version of the GOB political mindset in a skirt.  I am wondering if Corrine Brown will be looked at again. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Breaking News.  Sheriff Rutherford ordered this investigation.

Federal, State and local investigations in other places were already underway.  Sheriff Rutherford's investigation dovetailed with these.  Much of this was also based in South Carolina.

Officials say this is only the beginning of a huge racket where money was being funneled to private entities

Kelly Mathis is the king pin according to authorities.

[Cheshire Cat]

"THIS IS THE FIRST WAVE OF ARRESTS".  Now attention is being turned to other gambling venues along with real estate deals and "CAMPAIGN DONATIONS"

57 arrest warrants issued.  Formal charges filed next week.

The list of charges is lengthy with up to 30 years in prison.

Hold on to your hats kids. 

[Cheshire Cat]

Investigation in Florida was spawned in Seminole County by the Sheriff Donald F. Eslinger.

Monday March 11th in Oklahoma was the first search warrant executed.

[Cheshire Cat]

14 warrants in Duval and other south florida counties.  Arrest teams from six states dispatched to arrest 49 people.  The three top conspirators made over 36 million dollars. 

Nelson Cuba and Freitas are accused of operating the "laundering facilities" and are being held "Without Bond".  57 counts on each charge.

[Cheshire Cat]

A warehouse has been located and computers, slot machines etc have been seized.  292 bank accounts seized at 267 million dollars.

[Cheshire Cat]

Allied Veterans of the World is a sophisticated criminal network designed for personal profit.

[Cheshire Cat]

What a firestorm. Authorities will not comment on Jennifer Carrol because this is an ongoing investigation

Other elected officials are under investigation!

[Cheshire Cat]

Allied Veterans never filed appropriate documentation to run a sweepstakes as well as 501 3C for a non profit status. 

[Cheshire Cat]

More arrests expected to be made in second wave of arrests with some that may come sooner.  Now focusing on other gambling centers.

Large focus on Political contributions.

50 million dollars currently being held from initial close downs of Internet cafes.