Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier didn’t mince words in Naples this week as he spotlighted the results of Operation Sunset Stakes. This multi-agency crackdown hammered illegal gambling in Lee and Collier counties, and a new task force is on its way to keep up the pressure in Southwest Florida.
The numbers from Sunset Stakes speak for themselves: authorities shut down 479 illegal gaming machines, seized nearly $300,000 in illegal profits, and arrested 11 suspects.
Uthmeier, flanked by Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, and Florida Gaming Control Commission Chair Julie Brown, called the operation a solid win.
The operation came together under the leadership of both sheriff’s offices, the Florida Gaming Control Commission, and the Office of Statewide Prosecution.
Looking at the breakdown, Lee County seized more than $107,000, arrested six suspects, and cleared out 226 machines. Collier County pulled in over $185,000, made five arrests, and removed upwards of 250 machines.
But gambling wasn’t the only concern on the table. Uthmeier warned that operations like these often serve as a cover for even darker crimes: human trafficking, significant drug activity, and other criminal enterprises.
The officials also voiced frustration over the state’s current penalties for illegal gambling. After a bill to toughen the laws stalled in Tallahassee, legislation that would’ve bumped the crime up to a third-degree felony with five years in prison, they say the stakes are just too low for offenders.
Because Sunset Stakes worked so well, Julie Brown announced that the Florida Gaming Control Commission will set up a new law enforcement squad in Southwest Florida next year. The goal? Step up the fight against illegal gambling and better shield local communities from those looking to cash in at their expense.
This isn’t a one-off effort. Since January, Uthmeier and the commission have led a “statewide crackdown” on illegal gambling, taking down over 3,100 unlawful machines, grabbing at least $1.7 million in cash, and arresting over 80 suspects linked to illegal gaming.
For the legal details, you can find the rules and regulations in the Florida Statutes.
