VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – An investigation into suspected illegal gambling activity led deputies to confiscate a substantial amount of cash and more than 100 games from three local internet cafes, according to the Volusia County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies said they executed search warrants this week at The Spot at 1220 Hand Ave., The Hot Spot at 1230 Hand Ave. and The Room at 1240 Hand Ave.
The businesses were shut down and given cease and desist orders.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said it needed to be done because of the issues authorities run into there time and time again.
"We're chasing our tail. We go out there and do what we need to do. And in this case, the statewide prosecutor was with us and reviewed everything that we did and then we're able to get the warrants to go in there. But you and I both know within 48 hours, somebody is going to be back in that building again," Chitwood said.
The sheriff said the cafes tend to be problem areas because of the different crimes that can take place there.
"There are drug sales that are occur in there. They're easy targets for robberies and if you're inside of that store, you're not going to get any protection whatsoever, whether they have a security guard or not," Chitwood said.
Deputies said six games were confiscated from The Spot, 50 games were taken from The Hot Spot and 50 games were removed from The Room. The equipment will be forensically examined.
No arrests have been made.
Authorities did not say how much cash was seized, but called it a "substantial amount."
Chitwood is calling on state lawmakers to take action that would either make the business safer or get rid of them completely.
"The Legislature needs to get it together and either legalize it and regulate it, or put them out of business," he said.
Less than two weeks after the search warrants were executed, deputies announced charges against property owner 63-year-old Joseph Daprile and manager 33-year-old Yolando Baker.
There is an active warrant for Daprile on a charge of renting a house for gambling purposes, a news release said. Baker faces a charge of acting as an agent/employee of a keeper of a gambling house and manufacture/sale/possession of slot machines or prohibited devices. She turned herself in Sunday afternoon.