Illegal sports gambling bust nets several in Fla.
34 people, 23 businesses indicted in US, Panama, Costa Rica
UPDATED 6:11 PM EDT Apr 10, 2013
WASHINGTON —Seven Florida residents and two businesses registered in Florida are listed as defendants in a major gambling bust targeting a ring that had been organizing illegal sports gambling for 10 years, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
Thirty-four people and 23 businesses were indicted, many of which are based in Texas, Oklahoma and Panama.
According to the indictment, Legendz Sports took millions of illegal bets totaling more than $1 billion.
Read the full indictment
Four people from Central Florida were charged: Paul Tucker, 48, of Mount Dora, Fla.; Derek Hewitt, 53, of Altamonte Springs, Fla; Michael Lawhorn, 47, of Longwood; and Joseph McFadden, 56, of Longwood.
FBI agents raided Lawhorn's home at 7 a.m. Wednesday morning and seized computers and boxes. Lawhorn, also known as "Fat Mikey" or "Big Mikey," has lived there for 12 years, neighbors said.
The two businesses registered in Florida are Zapt Electrical Sales, Inc., and PLPA and Associated, Inc.
Charges for the 34 people include racketeering, conspiring to commit money laundering, money laundering and operating an illegal gambling business.
Authorities said the operation was run by Bartice Alan King, 42, of Spring, Texas.