Florida has conducted a sweeping operation against an illegal gambling ring that was operating out of Jacksonville and hosted games from multiple locations
Investigators and prosecutors in Florida managed to mount an ambitious and ultimately successful operation against an illegal gambling ring based in Jacksonville that is said to have operated at least 10 locations, hosting a variety of games of chances, including online games, fish tables, fire links, and more.
Operations Fish & Chips Busts Multiple Venues
The locations were identified as follows:
- 5354 Verna Boulevard
- 4547 Shirley Avenue
- 5331 Lenox Avenue
- 1513 Lane Avenue
- 734 Edgewood Avenue North
- 5045 Soutel Drive
- 4006 North Main Street
- 8014 Lem Turner Road
- 4578 Blanding Boulevard
- 6530 San Juan Avenue
The raid on the criminal group saw the confiscation of 263 gambling devices and as much as $2.5 million in cash. Additionally, 15 vehicles worth $1.7 million were also seized by the police, which also got hold of two houses and various expensive jewellery and watches.
Humor was not lost on the investigators who, upon finding out that the illicit gambling ring was running fish games, decided to call the operation “Operation Fish & Chips.” Interestingly, the ring was long under investigation, and it was dismantled over time.
The locations were collectively the site of 26 assaults and eight robberies. One such accident resulted in the death of a security guard in October this year.
Masterminds of the Gambling Ring Identified
The gambling ring also operated multiple accounts with banks and credit unions, and while the exact value of the holdings was not specified in the original reporting, it is estimated to have run into hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The chief suspects in the case are one R. R. A. and her husband, G. A. who are said to have masterminded the plan. According to various media reports, it was R. R. A. who would take illicit proceeds and go to legitimate casinos in an attempt to launder the proceedings.
R. R. A. is also reported to have tried running for city council.
