{"id":218061,"date":"2017-12-08T11:06:14","date_gmt":"2017-12-08T16:06:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1.tempurl.host\/?p=218061"},"modified":"2018-01-23T16:02:59","modified_gmt":"2018-01-23T21:02:59","slug":"deputies-seize-200k-cash-arrest-four-internet-cafe-raids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thegraphicgeek.com\/demo-cflwire\/deputies-seize-200k-cash-arrest-four-internet-cafe-raids\/","title":{"rendered":"Deputies Seize Over $200k Cash and Arrest Four During Internet Cafe Raids"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAKE COUNTY — Lake County Deputies seized over $200,000 in cash and arrested four people Thursday while conducting raids on gaming establishments.<\/p>\n

The raids were an end to a two-month investigation, dubbed “Operation Jackpot”, into local sweepstakes cafes that were allegedly\u00a0conducting illegal gambling operations.<\/p>\n

The investigation began after the Lake County Sheriff’s Department received numerous complaints about the businesses possibly being operated illegally. Other similar tips were also received through the Florida Crimeline hotline.<\/p>\n

During the investigation, detectives determined that ten locations were engaged in illegal activity and search warrants were isued\u00a0for each location.<\/p>\n

The search warrants were served Thursday on al ten locations, some of them simultaneously.<\/p>\n

During the searches, deputies seized multiple televisions, cash machines, and over $200,000 in cash, $100,000 more than what was previously reported yesterday.<\/p>\n

Three people were arrested and charged with gambling-related charges, one was arrested for possession\u00a0of a weapon by a convicted felon, and several other arrests are expected in the near future.<\/p>\n

Among those arrests were 26-year-old Christopher DeCotis was arrested at Lucky U, also known to locals as “Hot Spot”, a gaming establishment located in Suite C at 25010 Highway 27 in Leesburg. DeCotis was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia.<\/p>\n

During the raid on Fantasy Entertainment, located in Suite E at 25010\u00a0Highway 27 in Leesburg, deputies arrested 50-year-old Luis Hernandez and 38-year-old Samir Aguiar. Both were charged with keeping an establishment for gaming or gambling.<\/p>\n

Another arrest was made at Winners of Clermont, a cafe located at 1529 Sunrise Plaza Drive in Clermont where 42-year-old Brenda Martinez was arrested and charged with keeping an establishment for gaming or gambling.<\/p>\n

Some of the locations involved are:<\/p>\n