- Internet Cafe Gambling Florida Coast
- Internet Cafe Gambling Florida Gulf Coast
- Internet Cafe Gambling Florida Keys
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Thousands of dollars and numerous gambling machines have been seized after authorities raided six Tallahassee internet cafes.
Aug 19, 2020 Owners of some internet cafes shuttered by a Jacksonville law banning their use of “simulated gambling devices” are dropping a lawsuit they filed last year challenging the ban’s legality. NASSAU COUNTY, FLORIDA, Fla. — The chair of the Nassau County Board of Commissioners would like to see a change in how internet cafes are regulated and said that could also include shutting them. Aug 05, 2020 AD Tallahassee police arrested four people on gambling charges and seized cash and equipment in an internet cafe raid. Officers on Tuesday served a search warrant at the Fun Arcade, 1164 Capital.
The Tallahassee Police Department and Leon County Sheriff's Office conducted a joint investigation into operations at six different internet cafes in Tallahassee.
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According to TPD, the joint investigation began in April after citizens complained about illegal gambling.
While the investigation was ongoing, one of the gambling establishment/internet cafe patrons was shot during an armed robbery attempt on April 16 at an internet cafe in the1200 block of Capital Circle Southeast. They say another gambling establishment/internet cafe was also robbed at gunpoint 10 days later with the suspect discharging the firearm while at the Arcade Center in the 1800 block of North MLK Boulevard.
After consultation with the State Attorney’s Office, probable cause was established for search warrants to be served at the following locations:
- 2764 West Tennessee Street Suite 3
- 1350 Mahan Suite C-4
- 1214 Capital Circle Southeast Suite A
- 3839 North Monroe Street Suite 3
- 1363 East Lafayette Street Suite C
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- Arcade Center, 1889 North Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard
During the service of the search warrants numerous gaming machines, televisions, and thousands of dollars were seized.
LCSO says no arrests have been made at this time. The investigation will continue as evidence is processed.
This is a developing story.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — An employee at an Internet cafe is facing more than 50 charges related to illegal gambling after investigators received a complaint about the Tallahassee Midtown Arcade Amusement Center back in April.
According to a probable cause affidavit, the Leon County Sheriff's Office Narcotic Unit and Financial Crimes Unit received a complaint in April that the Tallahassee Midtown Arcade Amusement Center in the 1800 block of Northwood Center Blvd, described as an Internet cafe, was being used for 'illegal gambling activities.'
Deputies did undercover operations at the business twice, both times discovering evidence of illegal gambling. On May 23, investigators searched the business as well as five others in Tallahassee that had been identified as Internet cafes with illegal gambling.
During the search of the business, investigators say they found 51 slot machines.
Documents say that 45-year-old Tanisha Lovett-Austin was the employee running the business when investigators served the search warrant.
When they interviewed her, she stated that she had worked at the business since November 2018 and was responsible for opening the arcade for business. Lovett-Austin noted that she didn't make deposits or go to the bank on the arcade's behave and said she only placed excess money into a drop safe she didn't have access to at the end of her shift.
'She did not know who owns the business or who owns the building,' investigators wrote in the probable cause document. 'Lovett-Austin said that she only knew her supervisor as 'Debbie,'... Lovett-Austin said that she did not know Debbie's last name.' She also told investigators that employees were paid in cash but not in person.
When questioned about the gambling aspect, documents say Lovett-Austin confirmed that the games were designed for gambling. Based on the evidence, investigators charged Lovett-Austin with maintaining a gambling house and 51 counts of possession of slot machines.
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A warrant was issued for her arrest on Nov. 14. Lovett-Austin was taken into custody on Saturday. She is being held in jail on a $13,750 bond.