Owner Of Crowne Arcade In Boynton Beach Arrested For Running Gambling House

Antonio Magnone Was Located Out Of State, Now In PBSO Custody.

Antonio Magnone Was Located Out Of State, Now In Pbso Custody

Antonio Magnone Was Located Out Of State, Now In Pbso Custody

BOYNTON BEACH, FL – Boca Post (BocaPost.com) — The owner of Crown Arcade in Boynton Beach has been arrested and extradited back to Palm Beach County to face felony charges for operating a gambling house.

Boca Post first reported about the illegal gambling house when the manager was arrested last month. The owner has now been located in Ohio and arrested for many felony charges.

Antonio Magnone, 35, was arrested and delivered back to Palm Beach County to face the following charges:

  • 32 counts of 849.15 UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A SLOT MACHINE DEVICES
  • 896.101(35C) MONEY LAUNDERING (OVER $100K)
  • ESTABLISH A GAMBLING PLACE – KEEP A GAMBLING HOUSE
  • ESTABLISH GAMBLING PLACE – AGENT EMPLOYEE OF KEEPER OF HOUSE FOR

Magnone’s bond is currently set at $40,000.

Part of the narrative from the arrest affidavit can be found below:

On November 8, 2021, your affiant (Agent Michael Leatherman ID # 8299) employed by the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office (PBSO), assigned to the Narcotics Unit, and received a complaint alleging an illegal gambling operation being conducted at the Crowne Arcade located at 8890 Lawrence Road, Boynton Beach, FL 33436.

All of the information contained in this affidavit is based on: 1) personal knowledge and observations during the course of this investigation; 2) information conveyed to (PBSO) Agent Michael Leatherman by other law enforcement officials; 3) information related by expert and cooperating witnesses; 4) review of physical evidence obtained during the investigation; and 5) review of records including complaints, law enforcement reports and supplements and business and financial records.

Through your affiant’s training and experience your affiant knows that an Adult Arcade is defined as a facility that houses gaming machines that have elements of luck and sometimes, elements of skill which award points that may be converted to prizes and gift certificates. Florida explicitly prohibits skill-based slots that pay out cash or other things of value. Florida Statute § 849.16 defines a slot machine as “any machine or device . . . [that] may be operated and if the user, whether by application of skill or by reason of any element of chance or any other outcome unpredictable by the user, may: (a) Receive or become entitled to receive any piece of money, credit, allowance, or thing of value.

Undercover operations revealed the Crowne Arcade is engaged in Las Vegas-style video slot machines for cash prizes and is current date operating as an illegal gambling house contrary to Florida Statute §849.01.

Facts and Circumstances

Through investigative resources your affiant obtained a Broward County Sheriffs Office Crime Report # 90-1808-003821), which documents that on March 18, 2021, Vincenzo P. Magnone (DOB: 3-23-1984) was served with a lawfully obtained search warrant for the Crowne Arcade – 8890 Lawrence Rd. Boynton Beach, Fl. 33436 and his residence located at 9899 Coronado Lake Drive, Boynton Beach, FL 33436. Document s obtained from the Broward County Sheriffs Office also documents that Vincenzo Magnone was arrested for Bookmaking, Conspiracy to commit Bookmaking. Use of a 2-way communication device to facilitate a Felony and Keeping a Gambling House. Vincenzo Magnone plead guilty and was sentenced to five years of probation.

Within the Broward County Sheriffs Office (BSO) Crime Report # 90-1808-003821, it is documented that during the course of Broward County Sheriffs Office undercover operations, Vincenzo Magnone divulged to Broward County Sheriffs Detective Venezia, that he has utilized the illegal proceeds derived from the bookmaking operation to invest in multiple business ventures, which included arcades, located in Palm Beach County. Vincenzo Magnone further revealed that these arcades house casino style slot machines, which accept and pay out cash. Having knowledge this unlicensed casino is not operating legally in Palm Beach County, Vincenzo Magnone operates it under the rouse of an “Entertainment Only” establishment, which houses games of skill, not games of chance. Vincenzo Magnone has utilized Crowne Arcade located at 8890 Lawrence Rd. Boynton Beach, Fl. 33436 on multiple occasions to meet with Broward County Sheriffs Detective Venezia to pay and collect money won and lost through his illegal bookmaking operation. During one such meeting Vincenzo Magnone advised Detective Venezia that the machines at Crowne Arcade are worth an estimated $200,000 and the location creates a positive cash flow. The Broward County Sheriffs Office established probable cause that the Crowne Arcade is owned and operated by Vincenzo Magnone and the location is utilized to facilitate illegal bookmaking and gambling operations, while providing the guise of a legitimate business.

There is probable cause to believe that Antonio Magnone did by himself/herself, his/her servant, clerk or agent, or in any other manner, keep, exercise or maintain a gaming table or room, or gaming implements or apparatus, or house, booth, tent, shelter or other place for the purpose of gaming or gambling or did in any place of which he/she may directly or indirectly have charge, control or management, either exclusively or with others, procure, suffer or permit any person to play for money or other valuable thing at any game whatever, whether heretofore prohibited or not, contrary to Florida Statute 849.01.

There is probable cause to believe that Antonio Magnone did act as servant(s), clerk(s), agent(s), or employee(s) of any person in the keeping, exercising or maintaining of a gaming table or room, or gaming implements or apparatus, or house, booth, tent, shelter or other place for the purpose of gaming or gambling or did act as servant(s), clerk(s), agent(s), or employee(s) of any person in any place of which that person may directly or indirectly have charge, control or management, either exclusively or with others, procure, suffer or permit any person to play for money or other valuable thing at any game whatever, whether heretofore prohibited or not, contrary to Florida Statute 849.02.

There is probable cause to believe that Antonio Magnone did manufacture, own, store, keep, possess, sell, rent, lease, let on shares, lend or give away, transport, or expose for sale or lease, or offer to sell, rent, lease, let on shares, lend or give away, or permit the operation of, or did permit to be placed, maintained, or used or kept in any room, space, or building owned, leased, or occupied by Vincenzo Magnone or under Antonio Magnone’s and Marquita Margadonna’s management or control, 30 (thirty) slot machine(s) or device(s) or any part thereof, contrary to Florida Statute 849.15 and 849.23.

Based on the above evidence there is probable cause to believe that Antonio did launder money with financial transactions totaling or exceeding $100,000, in any 12- month period, and knowing that the property involved in a financial transaction represents the proceeds of some form of unlawful activity, conduct or attempt to conduct such a financial transaction which in fact involves the proceeds ofspecified unlawful activity with the intent to promote the carrying on of the specified unlawful activity, contrary to Florida Statute 896.101(3) and (5)(c).