An investigation throughout Florida uncovered an unlawful playing ring and cash laundering scheme, beautiful guests and resulting in a number of arrests. [Image: Shutterstock.com]
Reload card financial system
VIP Sweepstakes appeared like a spot to search out enjoyable—and authorized—playing leisure in Florida, however all just isn’t because it appears. Authorities recognized VIP Sweepstakes as a part of a community of unlawful playing arcades working throughout the state, with places spanning so far as West Palm Seaside to Zephyrhills. As of 2022, the Palm Seaside County Sheriff’s Workplace Cash Laundering Unit has taken over, connecting investigations into VIP Sweepstakes to a few different arcades: Treasure Hunters in Fort Pierce, Pharaoh’s Treasure in Vero Seaside, and one other location in Zephyrhills.
the reload playing cards violated Florida playing legal guidelines
The cash laundering scheme concerned patrons placing cash onto “reload playing cards,” which might then be used to play video slot machines that pay out money prizes. Whereas the act could seem innocent, and above all authorized, the reload playing cards violated Florida playing legal guidelines.
CBS12 Information stories: “Below Florida legislation, the possession of slot machines providing money prizes is against the law, besides in particular licensed services, resembling sure tribal places and pari-mutuel websites in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Throughout undercover operations, investigators noticed that solely money was being provided as prizes.”
Guests shocked the place was unlawful
A frequent customer named Elsie mentioned: “It was enjoyable to return and have lunch, play slightly bit, and go about your online business… They had been Treasure Hunt. Then they got here again with new machines and referred to as themselves VIP. Why would we not assume it was authorized?”
One other buyer named Ann mentioned: “To inform you the reality, I believed they did such a pleasant job there. I can’t think about why it’s shut down… I might see women in my neighborhood saying they had been going to the arcade. I believed they had been speaking about pinball machines. Sooner or later, I went with them and gained some cash. I used to be so comfortable.”
Extra unlawful actions
The investigation has up to now revealed that from October 20, 2022, to October 19, 2023, a complete of near $800,000 in money was deposited into the West Palm Seaside arcade’s accounts, with the cash allegedly not solely used to fund payroll and utilities, but additionally luxurious bills “like a Mini Cooper.” Authorities describe the motion of cash as a part of the operation’s scheme “to disguise the operation’s income.”
entry to the ATMs below strict management of the unlawful playing institutions
Additional, deputies recognized a line of unlawful ATMs working on the services with out conventional financial institution oversight. The machines are as an alternative owned by personal firms, with entry to the ATMs below strict management of the unlawful playing institutions. The machines are put in to offer on-sight entry to cash, funded by the money generated by every institution’s unlawful playing actions.
The suspects
Suspects within the investigation embrace Nova Roffey, Ritesh Patel, Joseph Michael Pestana, Eric David Silverstein, Justin Earl Silverstein, and David Roffey.
Nova and David Roffey, Pestana, and the Silversteins stand accused of cash laundering of $100,000 or extra, conspiracy cash laundering of $100,000 or extra, preserving a playing home, agent or worker of a playing home, conducting an illegal lottery, and illegal manufacturing of sale or possession of coin-operated gadgets.
Patel should confront 50 counts of illegal possession of slot machines, working an illegal lottery, being an agent or worker of a playing home, preserving a playing home, and conspiracy to commit cash laundering of $100,000 or extra.
