VERO BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office (IRCSO) conducted a high-profile illegal gaming bust at Panda Arcade in Vero Beach this Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of two men and the seizure of several slot machines. The suspects, Jinquan Lin and Jing Guo Yang, were charged with racketeering and illegal gambling, with each facing bonds set at a million dollars.
The raid, which took place at the arcade located near U.S. 1 and 8th Street, was the culmination of an investigation that began more than a year ago. Deputies, along with the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC), removed the illegal machines from the premises.
IRCSO Captain Joe Abollo emphasized the significance of this bust, expressing the sheriff’s office’s commitment to ridding the community of illegal gambling operations. “We don’t want that kind of garbage here. We will not tolerate these types of arcades,” he said.
The bust marks a rare but significant step in tackling illegal gaming operations, which have been on the decline this year compared to previous years.
