A tip about gambling machines at the Pilaklakaha Avenue Discount Deli in Auburndale led undercover detectives to place bets and win money, with store clerks handing over payouts concealed in bankers’ bags. This sparked the collapse of an illegal gambling network, resulting in 28 arrests, the seizure of 48 gambling machines, and the confiscation of $100,971 in cash across 12 stores in Polk County.
On September 3, 2025, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the State of Florida Gaming Control Commission and Auburndale Police Department, executed “Operation Bad Odds,” targeting 10 stores in unincorporated areas and two in Auburndale. The investigation began with reports of concealed gambling machines in back rooms at A-1 Discount Beverage and Discount & Deli. Detectives confirmed the presence of these machines, leading to the identification of 11 stores, with a 12th discovered during the execution of search warrants. Authorities seized 48 gambling machines, two drink coolers, two firearms, and $100,971 in cash. Five of the arrested individuals were identified as being in the country illegally.
Sheriff Grady Judd stated, “People who gamble on machines like the ones we confiscated are being ripped off. These machines are not programmed for fair play. And the odds are, stores who engage in illegal gambling are at a higher risk of being robbed due to the cash they have on hand. It’s a safe bet that you’re going to jail if you illegally gamble or provide the machines to enable those to illegally gamble.”
Charges filed include:
- FSS 849.01: Keeping a gambling house (1st-degree misdemeanor)
- FSS 849.231: Possessing a slot machine (2nd-degree misdemeanor)
- FSS 849.09(1)(B): Disposing of money by lottery (3rd-degree felony)
Stores and Suspects Involved:
A-1 Discount Beverage, 219 Pilaklakaha Avenue, Auburndale
- Mayurkumar Jani (DOB 6/9/1981): Arrested for keeping a gambling house (F3, enhanced due to illegal immigration status, ICE hold).
- Patel Kaushikkumar (DOB 5/30/1982): Charged with keeping a gambling house (M1).
Discount & Deli, 602 Pilaklakaha Avenue, Auburndale
- Sunil Thachukunnel John (DOB 5/20/1978): Charged with keeping a gambling house (M1), 4 counts possessing slot machine (M2), disposing money by lottery (F3).
- Narayana Sarojini (DOB 8/19/1982): Charged with keeping a gambling house (M1), 4 counts possessing slot machine (M2), disposing money by lottery (F3).
Chevron Gas Station, 123 Magnolia Avenue, Auburndale
- Mohammed Tanin Hossin (DOB 6/15/1994): Charged with keeping a gambling house, 3 counts possessing slot machine, 2 counts disposing money by lottery, out-of-county warrant (ICE hold, enhanced charges due to illegal immigration status).
- Nasrin Chowdhury (DOB 1/1/1985): Charged with 3 counts possessing slot machine, keeping a gambling house, 2 counts disposing money by lottery.
Citgo, 2101 K-Ville Avenue, Auburndale
- Suman Sarker (DOB 3/9/1983): Charged with keeping a gambling house, 3 counts possessing slot machine, 2 counts disposing money by lottery.
- Joan Kameka (DOB 3/4/1957): Charged with keeping a gambling house, 3 counts possessing slot machine, 2 counts disposing money by lottery.
- Marie Foster (DOB 11/28/1969): Charged with keeping a gambling house, 3 counts possessing slot machine, 2 counts disposing money by lottery, possession of cocaine, possession of paraphernalia.
Holy Land, 329 26th Street SW, Winter Haven
- Mohammed Solaiman (DOB 5/18/1984): Charged with keeping a gambling house, 5 counts possessing slot machine, disposing money by lottery, possession of cannabis resin.
- MD Abu Musa (DOB 8/10/1966): Charged with keeping a gambling house, 5 counts possessing slot machine, disposing money by lottery.
7 Star Deli and Lotto, 6940 Old Highway 37, Bradley Junction
- MD Jahangir Alam (DOB 8/5/1980): Charged with possessing slot machine, keeping a gambling house.
- Connie Albright (DOB 10/11/1957): Charged with keeping a gambling house.
- Note: Largest cash seizure at $36,994.
Placita Mexico, 1003 S. Rifle Range Rd, Wahneta
- Jose Alberto Peralta (DOB 12/30/1964): Charged with keeping a gambling house, possessing slot machine, disposing money by lottery.
Tienda Guatemala, 3172 Rifle Range Rd, Wahneta
- Maria Pedro (DOB 10/10/1982): Charged with 9 counts possessing slot machine, keeping a gambling house.
- Jaquelyne Sanchez-Ramirez (DOB 6/30/1989): Charged with keeping a gambling house.
- Kenneth Halstead (DOB 6/19/1962): Arrested as gambling machine supplier, charged with 9 counts possessing slot machine.
Tienda Guatemala, 450 N. Wabash Ave, Lakeland
- Mario Vargas Garcia (DOB 11/17/1986): Charged with keeping a slot machine, possessing slot machine, tampering with evidence for removing machines before detectives arrived (ICE hold, enhanced charges due to illegal immigration status).
Love’s Truck Stop, 17309 US Hwy 27, Lake Wales
- Three machines seized; investigation ongoing.
Fonda Rodriguez, 1100 US Hwy 17-92, Haines City
- Jesus Abraham-Martinez (DOB 4/15/1998): Charged with engaging in gambling (M1, ICE hold due to illegal immigration status).
- Ricardo Valencia-Pacheco (DOB 10/2/1984): Charged with engaging in gambling (M1, ICE hold due to illegal immigration status).
- Jose Rodriguez (DOB 10/1/1958): Charged with keeping a gambling house, possessing a slot machine, disposing of money by lottery.
- Araceli Hernandez (DOB 8/14/1981): Charged with keeping a gambling house, possessing a slot machine, disposing of money by lottery.
- Maribel Hernandez (DOB 10/6/2000): Charged with keeping a gambling house, possessing a slot machine.
- Lisbeth Guerrero (DOB 2/6/1999): Charged with keeping a gambling house, possessing a slot machine.
- Sheila Willingham (DOB 10/17/1964): Charged with engaging in gambling.
El Video Latino, 1719 E. Hinson Avenue, Haines City
- Salvador Calderon-Gamez (DOB 6/2/1971): Charged with keeping a gambling house, possessing slot machine, disposing money by lottery.
- Aaron Calderon (DOB 12/8/2000): Charged with keeping a gambling house, possessing slot machine, disposing money by lottery.
- Elbin Objio-Ramirez (DOB 3/24/1958): Charged with engaging in gambling.
