Former Police Leaders Plead Guilty
Two leading members of the Jacksonville law enforcement community have pled guilty for their participation in a slot machine scam that has become the talk of Florida.
Nelson Cuba, the former president of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, and Robbie Freitas, the Order’s former vice-president were convicted following a state probe into a gambling and money-laundering operation nominally run by a charity. Participants netted nearly $300 million until the ring was busted two years ago.
Cuba and Freitas were authorized agents for various shell corporations whose sole purpose was to launder the proceeds of illegal slot operations. The pair also owned several Internet cafes.
Freitas was authorized to sign transactions on behalf of one such company, Enzyme Consultants. Originally charged with 17 counts, including racketeering and money-laundering, he pleaded guilty to two charges in April 2014 in return for a promise of no prison sentence or fine.
Nelson Cuba was next. Court records show that Cuba had made a series of deposits totaling $576,100 during September 4, 2009-December 30, 2011, accompanied by a combined $571,400 in withdrawals. He withdrew the money every week or two in rounded amounts below $10,000.
Originally indicted on more than 100 counts, he pleaded guilty on January 6 in Seminole County Court to possession of a slot machine, running a lottery, and setting up an illegal financial transaction. He then was sentenced to one year of house arrest and four years of probation, and was ordered to pay $115,000 in fines. Cuba also surrendered his law enforcement certification.
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