Our experienced defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Leifert & Leifert represent clients facing all types of criminal charges, including charges stemming from illegal gambling. Because our Ft Lauderdale gambling lawyers handle these types of cases all the time, we are thoroughly familiar with Chapter 849 of the Florida State Statutes, the section of our state’s legal code that deals with the crime of gambling and the associated penalties.
Subsection 849.08 of the Florida State Statutes deals with the basic crime of gambling. The subsection stipulates that whoever plays or engages in any game at cards, keno, roulette, faro or other game of chance, at any place, by any device, for money or other thing of value, they could be guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
What are the Gambling Laws in Ft. Lauderdale?
According to s. 849.08, if you are at a friend’s house playing poker for money, and you are caught by law enforcement, you can be prosecuted with the crime of gambling, which is a second-degree misdemeanor. If you are convicted of this crime, you face up to but not more than 60 days in prison and/or a fine of up to but not more than $500. Additionally, running and/or assisting in the operation of a gambling house can lead to even more severe penalties.
As is specified by s. 849.01 of the Florida State Statutes, whoever keeps, exercises or maintains a gaming table or room, or gaming implements or apparatus, or house or other place for the purpose of gaming or gambling or in any place of which she or he may directly or indirectly have charge, control or management, either exclusively or with others, procures, suffers or permits any person to play for money or other valuable thing at any game whatever, whether heretofore prohibited or not, shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
For instance, per s. 849.01, if someone runs an informal gambling room out of their basement, hosting neighbors who regularly play poker for money, such a person, the host and operator of the gambling room, is guilty of a third-degree felony, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and/or $5,000 in fines. A lawyer in Ft. Lauderdale could help someone build a defense if they have been accused of gambling.
How Could an Attorney Help with Gambling Charges?
Depending on the exact gambling charges that someone may be facing, a lawyer in Ft. Lauderdale could prepare a strong defense on their behalf. One of the most common defenses that an attorney may use in these cases is determining if law enforcement used improper search and seizure or warrant procedures to make the arrest. Additionally, our team could review the evidence and determine if there are any weaknesses in the prosecutor’s case.
Consulting With a Ft Lauderdale Gambling Attorney
At Leifert & Leifert, our Ft Lauderdale gambling lawyers used to prosecute the very types of cases that we now defend. As such, we bring to the table an invaluable perspective, gained from decades of handling criminal cases both as prosecutors and later as criminal defense attorneys. If you need help with your criminal charges, call today.
