JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — An illegal gambling crackdown in Jacksonville leads to ten different locations across the city being permanently shut down.
Court documents name more than a dozen local people and companies or LLC’s involved in the gambling ring, which police said had been operating since at least 2021. Five people have been arrested on racketeering claims as a result.
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The court records shed light on why the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office served search warrants at several homes and businesses last week.
HAPPENING NOW: Your #JSO is serving multiple search warrants at multiple homes and businesses throughout the city. Several people are in custody and there is no danger to the general public.
— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) December 11, 2024
We are working a long-term investigation with state and federal partners. We will… pic.twitter.com/p25U3nXOo8
One neighbor who spoke to Action News Jax’s Robert Grant anonymously lives across the street from one of the raids.
“All day long. A lot of activity. A lot of in and out,” she said. “It was all day and to see all of his vehicles towed away — it was sad. I feel for the family.”
The raid was at the home of Ryan Strickland, one of the defendants named in the court filing. Legal documents show he was the main owner of two locations police described as a front for illegal gambling that was part of the larger 10 locations.
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The state said the ring had been ongoing since at least 2021. In March last year, officers responded to a spot on Shirley Ave. for a robbery and officers noticed illegal gambling devices inside. The investigation continued from there.
Most recently, officers investigated a deadly shooting at the Dragon Arcade that killed an armed security guard.
Court records showed the defendants used profits to buy property and vehicles. One of the defendants, Jerry Bass, was at the center of the 2013 Allied Veterans of the World case.
“Large sums of money have been spent by Allied Veterans of the World on lobbying efforts and donations to political campaigns,” Former FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey said at the time.
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The internet cafe prosecution then led to 57 arrests, including Bass who pleaded no contest and never served jail time.
Bass is now in jail on more than $3 million bond and is expected in court in early January. Bass is in jail on more than $1.5 million bond and is due in court Wednesday.
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