TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – At least four people have been arrested on several charges stemming from an illegal gambling operation at multiple locations in Leon County.
According to Authorities, Wondwossen Gizaw-Tessema, Firehiwot Gebre, Christabel Ekhosuehi, and Eyerusalem Hiluf have been arrested on charges related to illegal gambling, racketeering, forgery and fraud.
A multi-agency investigation alleges that several businesses were linked to the owner of the Wondu Marathon on Orange Avenue, Gizaw-Tessema, and were operating illegal gambling activities.
Authorities say gambling machines were also found at Euro Fashions Boutique on West Tennessee Street, the One Stop College Market on West Tennessee Street, the Wayside General Store on Blountstown Highway, and the Pretty Game Boutique on Crawfordville Road.
A State Attorney's Office investigation found slot machines at D&B Family Amusement Game Center in Wakulla County, which led them to Gator Tail Amusement, LLC., who investigators say provided machines to other locations in the area.
Investigators also say that the Wondu Marathon and its employees had customers who used EBT and wanted cash buy items at other stores and return the items to the Wondu Marathon for 50% of what they spent on their EBT card, in cash.
Gizaw-Tessema is charged with 22 counts of possession of a slot machine, 34 counts of forgery, six counts of fraud, 3 counts of establishing a gambling place, three counts of operating a lottery, one count of racketeering, one count of swindling to obtain property, one count of money laundering, and one count of grand theft.
Gebre is charged with 13 counts of public assistance fraud, six counts of owning /storing a slot machine, one count of racketeering, one count of organized scheme to defraud, one count of money laundering, one count of operating a lottery, one count of grand theft, one count of establishing a gambling place.
Hiluf is charged with 16 counts of possession of a slot machine, 18 counts of forgery, nine counts of public assistance fraud, two counts of establishing a gambling place, two counts of operating a lottery, one count of racketeering, one count swindling to obtain property, one count of money laundering, and one count of grand theft.
Ekhosuehi is charged with six counts of possessing a slot machine, one count of operating a lottery and one count of establishing a gambling place.
The Leon County Sheriff’s Office, Tallahassee Police Department, Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office, State Attorney’s Office and Florida Department of Law Enforcement all participated in the extensive investigation.
LCSO says throughout the investigation, detectives have also seized large sums of money and several vehicles.
Detectives and agents began making arrests yesterday and officials say more arrests are forthcoming. According to LCSO, there are 132 defendants in this case in total.
In addition to the four arrested, the Leon County Sheriff's Office has named the following as defendants in the case:
Victor Angeles
Vera Warren
Ateref Kasa
Moussa Kiekieta
Aster Negatu
Blessing Ekhosuehi
Stephen Kabah
David Foshee
Christian Foshee
Terrance Johnson
Timothy Byrd
Stephanie Arbuthnot
Debralyn Bostick
Alphonso Jefferson
Sanyika Townsend
Alexus Addison
Kristie Bailey
Sheldon Barber
Gretchen Barineau
Tiffany Barkley
Kenneth Bennett
Wiley Blankenship
Nicholas Brent
Leslie Brent
Ebony Brinson
Trenton Brinson
Sheldrick Brown
Melissa Brown
Lawanna Brown
Angie Bryant
Willie Burke
Antwan Byrd
Joseph Chapman
Telvin Chapman
Anthony Chapman
Alphonso Clayton
Antwain Coates
Oliver Cole
Derwin Collins
Mia Cooper
Donnie Copeland
Izell Crawford
James Crews
Shanica Cromartie
Sarah Crosby
Shaunkia Cross
Kimberly Davis
Leonard Deloney
James Edwards
Tashay Ellison
Naomi Fudge
Cheryl Garner
Kimberly Gee
Latoya Glover
Zack Goodwin
Teresa Griffin
Tiffany Hayes
Latoya Henderson
Jerry Hill
Ketra Hill
Kendra Hills
Calvin Hills
Zeleka Houston
Darrel Houston
Darryl Huewitt
Christa Hughes
Lykestea Jackson
Travis Jackson
Candice Jackson
Willis James
Tyease Jefferson
Laprisha Johnson
John Johnson
Ashley Johnson
Donquvious Johnson
Shawn Johnson
Laqreshia Kelly
Christopher Kenon
Tyrone Knight
Nikki Lindsey
Jessica McBride
Octavius Mcdonald
Lavelle Miller
Jessica Moore
Sierra Moore
Ronterrius Moore
Lamario Morris
Shameka Myles
Niquita Payne
Alexus Perry
Felicia Peterson
Tashina Phillips
Darius Pleas
Latashia Powell
Darryl Powell
Tony Pruitt
Neporshe Reed
Dante Rhodes
Felicia Richardson
Mercedes Richardson
Sofia Rivera
Dealvin Roberts
Tiffany Roberts
Edward Robinson
Brandy Rogers
Tawanda Roseborough
Stacey Rowls
Carl Sanders
Sade Sanford
Samantha Shaw
Ivory Sheffield
Latarshela Sherman
Wesley Smith
Alcaree Sumner
Robert Taylor
Earnest Taylor
Raleigh Thomas
Lee Thomas
Fredtonya Tutt
Dexter Vickers
Melissa Walker
Antonio Ward
Anastasia Ward
Tiawana Watson
Brittany Williams
Joshua Williams
Janie Williams
Diana Williams
