A Jacksonville lawyer who was once the president of the local bar association is accused of being the architect of a $300 million racketeering and money laundering scheme, reports the Florida Times-Union. Kelly Mathis, 49, who represents Allied Veterans of the World, was described as the “mastermind” with ties to “virtually every aspect” of what officials called a massive gambling operation. They said he made $7 million from the scheme that spanned 23 Florida counties and six states.
Mathis was among 57 people connected to the investigation of the St. Augustine-based Allied Veterans, which runs dozens of gaming centers in Florida. Other high-profile local names include Nelson Cuba, president of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police, and Jerry Bass, 62, of Jacksonville, who is the national commander of Allied Veterans. Jennifer Carroll resigned as lieutenant governor the same day she was questioned about her ties to Allied Veterans. More arrests are expected.