Like dozens of other defendants in the Allied Veterans of the World gambling investigation, Robbie Freitas will not serve time in jail for charges filed against him.
The former first vice president of the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police was charged with felonies for improper financial transactions and misdemeanors for possession of slot machines.
Freitas pleaded guilty Tuesday to two charges and will face no jail time or fines. He quickly left court in Seminole County without talking to reporters.
The former Jacksonville police officer agreed to testify in related cases, if prosecutors needed him.
He and Nelson Cuba, former president of the FOP, were photographed making frequent banking transactions that officials said were through shell companies that were used to funnel illegal gambling profits.
From Sept. 4, 2009-Dec. 30, 2011, officials said they tracked deposits of $576,100 and withdrawals of $571,400 in accounts that Cuba and Freitas controlled.
The two were among the owners of several Internet cafes that were raided last year when law enforcement arrested 57 people in what was described as a $300 million money laundering operation.
“The state’s not seeking any sanction beyond the time he’s already served,” said defense attorney Tad Yates.
Cuba’s case is one of seven that remain open. Judge Kenneth Lester has set a trial date in September for any defendants remaining at that point. Prosecutors have said they think the remaining cases could be settled before the trial.
The arrests shut down an organization that set up about 50 operations that had machines that resembled slot machines, though owners said the patrons were playing sweepstakes.
Allied Veterans of the World, took in $300 million and paid out only 2 percent to veterans, even though it advertised itself heavily as a nonprofit to help veterans.
The only defendant who faces time in jail is Jacksonville attorney Kelly Mathis, who was convicted in February and sentenced to six years. He has appealed the sentence.
Freitas will be sentenced Nov. 24 at 8:30 a.m.