- A man from Lakeland is now charged with money laundering as he allegedly led an illegal gambling operation, according to what the deputies stated.
- Covert police officers embedded themselves within the high-stakes poker games and subsequently found out that Kerr was conducting numerous transfers across different bank accounts.
- The Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, stated that it’s likely additional charges will follow.
LAKELAND, Fla. - A man from Lakeland is now charged with money laundering as he was reportedly the head of the operation according to what deputies claimed. illegal gambling house.
James Kerr, who is 39 years old, is charged with overseeing the operation of the business. Winter Haven and earning hundreds of thousands of dollars.
READ: Man from Florida charged with attempting to cash a fake check says he knew his actions were 'shady' and 'incorrect': HCSO
The backstoryThe structure on Avenue D SW, which previously functioned as a legal practice and has since been repurposed into another enterprise, served as one of the primary sites identified by investigators for Kerr’s clandestine gambling activities involving poker games.
Following a lead, covert agents joined the high-stakes poker games and subsequently found out that Kerr was conducting numerous transfers across different bank accounts.
From 2021 to 2023, investigators stated that Kerr attempted to conceal illegal income exceeding $800,000.
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As you should know, he’s also a seasoned gambler," stated Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. "When you look him up online, you’ll find out he has legitimately amassed considerable wealth through legal betting activities. However, here’s the twist: driven by greed, he initiated an unauthorized gaming operation which led to his arrest.
Dig deeperOn Tuesday, during Kerr's initial court appearance, his lawyer contended that the state lacks sufficient grounds for the allegations.
The lawyer stated, 'He transferred the legally acquired gambling debts into his personal bank accounts,' adding, 'This is akin to storing your legitimate gambling debts in a sock. It doesn’t constitute money laundering; it’s simply hiding funds.'
What's nextJudd mentioned that there might be additional charges forthcoming.
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“For individuals who engaged in gambling and haven’t been charged yet, the investigation remains ongoing,” he stated.
The amount of Kerr's bail has been set at $60,000, and should he post this bond, he will be required to use a GPS monitoring device.
The details in this narrative were supplied by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and compiled during his initial court hearing.
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