Ocala last week reported that defendants accused of running a gambling operation disguised as a veterans’ charity are building a defense that Internet cafes, based on the legal interpretations of high-profile politicians and lawyers, are lawful.
Documents filed in the Allied Veterans’ case reveal that their defense will depend on statements, a campaign donation solicitation, and ordinances passed by city and county officials throughout Florida. The documents show that some elected officials’ beliefs regarding the legality of Internet cafes was no different than the defendants, whom are charged with among other crimes, money laundering, possessing slot machines, and keeping a gambling house.
Arguing that local ordinances to regulate the Internet cafes should presentable at his trial, defendant Kelly Mathis said: “Clearly, a local government body would have no authority to regulate and zone activity that is already forbidden. The fact that they did proves they too concluded the applicable state statutes did not outlaw the internet sweepstakes games.”
Jennifer Carroll, former Florida Lt. Governor, denies any wrongdoing and has not been charged with a crime. She resigned earlier this year after she was interviewed as part of the investigation into Allied Veterans. After the arrests of the Allied Veterans’ defendants, lawmakers banned Internet cafes during a legislative session.
The most obvious attempt to link a well-known politician to the belief in Internet cafe legality was in a failed effort to subpoena Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi into giving a deposition. Earlier this month, Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester, rejected attorneys’ request to submit Bondi to a deposition. He said the information they were seeking wasn’t relevant to the defendants’ guilt or innocence. The information sought was regarding Bondi’s solicitation of a $25,000 campaign contribution from one of the companies whose owners are charged with wrongdoing.
Top Florida politicians are on defense witness lists, including Governor Rick Scott and Agriculture Secretary Adam Putnam. They may not necessarily be called to testify.
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