By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter
Chiefland police late Saturday raided eight businesses in the city that Police Chief Scott Anderson described as illegal gambling establishments.
Businesses hit by the raids were Fish Treasures, Blue Max Social Center, Tropical Treasures, Chiefland Arcade, Fun Time Arcade, Cyber Center, Patriot Social Club and Blue Lagoon Gaming.
Police seized internet machines and other devices. Among the machines found were “fish tables.” Anderson said fish tables are designed for eight players. They stand around the electronic table and put down cash.
“If you put $20 in and get $21 back, you broke the law. It’s gambling,” Anderson said.
Anderson said he didn’t have an exact figure on the total number of machines seized but he expected it to be in the hundreds.
Anderson said they also confiscated $18,000 cash from one establishment.
City police were joined in the raids by the Levy County Sheriff’s Office, Gilchrist County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s office, Ocala Police and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.
The businesses raided by police stretched from one end of Chiefland to the other.
One of the establishments, Fish Treasures, 1555 NW. 22nd Court, had no sign out front. The old business sign for Chiefland Gun and Pawn remained in place.
“They didn’t put up a sign. They knew it was illegal,” Anderson said.
Blue Max Social Center, 1525 NW 26th Ave., two blocks south of Fish Treasures, posted a sign inside the front entrance indicating it operated 24 hours a day. The sign said there were shift changes at 4 p.m., 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. and playing would stop for 15 to 20 minutes during shift changes. The owners apologized for any inconvenience.
Anderson said there were nine customers in Blue Max when it was closed by police, including about seven men and two women. No arrests were made.
The chief said patrons of these establishments can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor for patronizing a gambling establishment. The clerks and managers could be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor and the owners could be charged with a third-degree felony. He said the city would have the option of charging them under a state statute prohibiting the maintenance of a gambling establishment.
“At this point, we haven’t made any arrests. There may be some coming in the near future,” he said.
Anderson said there are sometimes multiple layers of owners in these businesses. He questioned one man at the entrance to Blue Max. Anderson told the man he was listed as one of the corporate owners of Blue Max on the state’s website of registered corporations – Sunbiz. The man, casually licking a Lollipop, denied being an owner. He said he had no financial interest in the business.
The police chief said the businesses obtain an occupational license from Chiefland City Hall and begin operating.
Anderson said his department conducted an undercover investigation into illegal gambling sites in Chiefland prior to the raids. He said an undercover officer walked into one establishment and put down as much as $40 to $60 at a time at a fish table. He said the undercover officer lost money and won money over a period of time.
“We actually came out ahead $30,” Anderson said.
The chief’s plan to raid the alleged gambling sites wasn’t exactly a secret. He discussed his plans to raid the sites at a Chiefland City Commission meeting more than a month ago.
City of Chiefland Gambling Raid November 3, 2018
Posted November 4, 2018
