Two 35-year-old men have been placed in police custody on racketeering charges following a raid on two illegal arcade locations in Indian River County, as part of a complex investigation
Two men are in police custody on racketeering charges following a raid on two illegal arcade locations in Indian River County.
Investigators from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants on Wednesday, targeting sites suspected of operating illegal gambling activities, including one under the name Panda Arcade, located off US Highway 1, and one in a building on 27th Avenue in Vero Beach.
Extensive, Ongoing Investigation
Capt. Joe Abollo of the Indian River County (IRC) Sheriff’s Office explained that the raid was part of an extensive investigation in collaboration with the Florida Gaming Control Commission.
“This is an ongoing investigation that we’ve had with the Florida Gaming Commission. It’s an arcade that was in operation. They were actually conducting illegal gambling activities,” Abollo said.
In an interview for WPTV, Capt. Abollo described the investigation as part of a larger, ongoing operation, “almost like an enterprise,” which led to racketeering charges against the two men arrested.
The suspects, Jinquan Lin and his associate Jin Guo Yang, are now being held at the Indian River County Jail, each with a $1 million bond.
According to the Florida Division of Corporations, the Panda Arcade has been registered under Lin’s name since 2019.
Gary Snyder, Chief of Law Enforcement for the Florida Gaming Control Commission, was on-site during the raids, revealing that illegal slot machines were confiscated.
“This is just one of the two locations here in this county that we worked today,” Snyder said.
“And we found several illegal gambling machines.” Snyder further explained that unlike licensed casinos that are regulated to pay out a minimum of 85% to patrons, these unregulated operations often payout in single-digit percentages, which can exploit vulnerable individuals.
Authorities told WPBF that additional details are expected as more evidence is processed.
Million-Dollar Bonds Show “Zero Tolerance” for Illegal Gambling
Authorities are also looking into other establishments potentially associated with Lin and Yang, who are both 35 years old.
“They’re both being held on a million-dollar bond each, which is excessively high for that type of crime,” explained Capt. Abollo.
“It just shows, it’s a message for us to let everyone know that we have zero tolerance for that type of activity here in our community,” he added.
The sheriff’s office has shut down both establishments indefinitely. Capt. Abollo indicated that additional arrests related to the recent raids are anticipated soon.
“We Don’t Want Any of That Poison in Our Community”
Abollo also noted a rising trend of similar operations in the area, commenting on the way arcades bring in illegal gambling activities while harboring “other illegal criminal activity, including prostitution, drugs, human trafficking.”
The authorities “have zero tolerance for that,” as they “don’t want any of that poison in their community,” further added Abollo, who is also a board member of Literacy Services of IRC and serves as the public information officer for the county’s Emergency Operation Center.
Snyder explained that the Vero Beach arcade was not licensed to operate any gaming machines or slot machines, a frequent occurrence that his department started to notice in several similar cases.
Reminiscing the internet cafes’ sweepstakes trend in 2009, Snyder explained that while the respective businesses were shut down, they “gradually” came back using different business models.
“They’re actually using casino-style machines. Same ones you find in a licensed facility,” he explained.
Agents confiscated 68 illegal slot machines, $37,719 in cash, multiple bank accounts, and two commercial properties.
At the end of June, law enforcement seized close to 200 electronic gambling machines from two illegal gambling businesses in Englewood, Florida. The operation against illegal gambling also resulted in one arrest.
Previously during the same month, the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit conducted a similar operation at the Showtime Casino in Port Charlotte, Florida, following a series of tips and complaints regarding illegal gambling activities at the venue along with other locations in the county.
The operation also resulted in two arrests.
