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Sheriff Closes Down Alleged Gambling Houses

News Channel 8 photo by JIM FARQUHAR

Cyber Pal Café is located at 32700 U.S. 19 N. in Palm Harbor.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: May 29, 2008

Updated: 05/29/2008 04:28 pm

James Hill

Zbigniew Skwara

Steven G. Duke

LARGO - On Thursday, Pinellas County sheriff's investigators closed down three Internet cafes for serving up alleged gambling activities.

According to detectives, the investigation began after several complaints were received alleging illegal gambling activity at: the Cyber Pal Café, 32700 U.S. 19 N. Palm Harbor; the Hot Spots Cyber Center, 2636 Bayshore Drive, Dunedin; and Mike's Internet Café, 10251 Seminole Blvd., Seminole.

Detectives conducted spot checks at each location as part of the investigation prior to serving the search warrants, according to a sheriff's spokesman.

Those charged with maintaining a gambling establishment were:

• Steven G Duke, 52, manager of Mike's Internet Café. He resides at 12800 Vonn Road, Largo. He was also charged with 52 misdemeanor counts of possession of a coin-operated device.

• Zbigniew Skwara, 50, reported owner-operator of Cyber Pal Café, who lives at 443 Pent Street, Tarpon Springs. He was also charged with 20 misdemeanor counts of possession of a coin-operated device.

• James Michael Hill, 29, of Davenport, who detectives identified as a regional manager for Hot Spots Cyber Café. He was also charged with 60 misdemeanor counts of possession of a coin-operated device.

The three men were arrested by detectives assigned to the Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division. The investigators also seized cash and computers, while serving search warrants as part of an Internet gambling investigation, police said.

In addition to making arrests, detectives seized evidence including a total of 139 computers and more than $14,000 in cash.

Detectives reported the business revolved around patrons purchasing telephone cards or Internet service time. The time was then converted into points that could be used to play "Vegas Style" computer games on computers at each location.

For each dollar spent, patrons received 100 points, which they could use to play about a dozen different slot, bingo, or keno games. Any points won by the patron during play were redeemed for cash on site, detectives allege.

The investigation continues, a sheriff's office spokesman said.

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