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Sunday, May 19, 2013 | 6:43 a.m.

Updated: 9:57 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 | Posted: 6:13 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009

Police: Internet Café Housed Illegal Gambling

MARION COUNTY, Fla. —

Detectives in Marion County say another gambling hall, masquerading as an Internet café, is closed for business. Agents raided the hall on State Road 200 in Ocala on Thursday and arrested the employee.

Marion County deputies recently shut down two other cafes. This was third and they hope the last. The business is not illegal, but gambling is illegal.

Some patrons of the Internet Express off Highway 200 in Ocala weren't too happy to see the Marion County Sheriff's Office on Thursday.

"Why jump on this place? There are many people who come here and enjoy it," one person said.

The business was full when deputies served their search warrant Thursday, but what patrons saw as harmless entertainment investigators call an illegal gambling operation raking in $1,200 to $2,600 per day.

The only arrest was 24-year-old Victoria Coons. The sheriff's office says she's charged with being the employee of a gambling house. Deputies are getting an arrest warrant for her boss, James Blaketer Sr.

Customers purchased cards and to use the Internet and they told Eyewitness News the cards gave them access to games where they could win prize money; deputies say that's the very definition of gambling.

"They were closed down before. I was expecting it I guess," one patron said.

The Internet Express and several similar businesses were told to shut their doors in June after deputies shut down two Cyberzone locations. The sheriff's office says most of them did, but the Internet Express hired an attorney.

"I think they should go ahead and legalize it," resident Leroy Saville said.

Deputies say they've confiscated 43 computer stations and they're warning patrons to stay away. The sheriff's office says the DEA has also gotten involved in shutting down these cafes.

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