Florida Lawyer Receives Six-Year Prison Term for Involvement in Sweepstakes Cafes Scam
In February 2014, a news article was posted about a gambling ring run by a Florida attorney named Kelly Mathis. The ring, which operated under the names Allied Veterans of America and Allied Veterans of the World, was found to be running sweepstakes cafes. These cafes, a controversial issue in the United States, offered products like phone cards or Internet time as a cover for simulated slot machine games.
Mathis was convicted of a total of 103 counts, including racketeering and possessing slot machines. He was sentenced to six years in prison but remains free on bond while awaiting his appeal. Mathis expressed confidence that he would be overturned on appeal.
The controversy surrounding the sweepstakes cafes received significant attention, in part due to the involvement of Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll. Carroll had worked as a consultant for Allied Veterans but was not charged with any crimes.
Prosecutors claimed that very little of the $300 million in revenues from the businesses actually went to veterans. Mathis' attorneys argued for leniency during sentencing, claiming he only provided legal advice to Allied Veterans. However, Prosecutor Nick Cox disagreed, stating that Mathis' involvement in deception and merging the charity with the gambling operation warranted jail time. Cox acknowledged that sentencing a lawyer to prison was not a proud moment, but he believed it was necessary.
As of August 2025, there are no recent or direct search results addressing the current status of the Allied Veterans of America and Allied Veterans of the World sweepstakes cafes controversy in Florida. This suggests that the situation remains unresolved, and further investigation may be required to determine the current status of the controversy.
If you are seeking the latest updates, specialized legal databases, Florida state or local news outlets, or official Florida gaming commission statements would be the best sources to consult. It is important to note that the group was mostly used as a front for the gambling operations, and the implications of Mathis' sentencing could potentially have negative implications for the legal community, according to his statement.
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