Florida’s racketeering case against the Allied Veterans of the World goes to trial in a little over a month. One defense attorney sees the recent withdrawal of the state’s lone gambling expert as a cause for optimism.
Jacksonville-based Allied Veterans of the World operated dozens of internet cafes across the state, until the day federal and state investigators closed 49 of them for alleged illegal gambling.
Defense attorney Curtis Fallgatter represents four of the 57 people who were arrested and charged with racketeering and money laundering. Fallgatter’s attempt to force Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to testify for the defense fell flat last week when a Seminole County judge ruled against him.
He seems to have convinced prosecutors that their gambling expert wasn’t qualified to testify, however, because, he says, the state has removed him from their witness list.
"In fact, they’ve told the judge and all of us that anything that was in the arrest affidavits should be stricken as well. So they have walked away from him completely," said Fallgatter.
"They have no other expert, he’s the only one they had. So, you know, they may have some theories as to how they proceed and we’re waiting to find out what they think they can do to prosecute a case without an expert."
Fallgatter plans to file a motion to dismiss the case on Monday.
The Florida Attorney General's Office of Statewide Prosecution refused WJCT’s request to comment on the case, saying it would be inappropriate. The trial is scheduled to begin September 16th.
