JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters announced details of its Operation Fish and Chips, which netted the arrest of a dozen people across Jacksonville.
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“This illegal operation was siphoning huge sums of illegal money to these criminals,” Waters said during a press conference on Wednesday.
The investigation began in March of 2023 and during the course of the investigation, detectives seized $2.5 million in cash, 15 vehicles worth $1.7 million total, two houses and one commercial building, and $1.2 million of jewelry and accessories along with 52 firearms. Waters said it was all purchased using illegal money.
JSO said there were four main ring leaders. Court documents refer to Robin Azzam as the boss. She previously worked for the city and unsuccessfully ran for Jacksonville city council in 2009.
Legal documents said Azzam’s husband, George Azzam, helped manage the establishments. Majd Dabbas allegedly manufactured the illegal gambling machines. Ryan Strickland is accused of providing illegal gambling software and helping deliver the machines.
Jerry Bass is accused of operating an establishment on Shirley Avenue and helping to launder the money. He was previously at the center of the Allied Veterans Internet Cafe prosecution in 2013. He pleaded no contest and never served jail time.
“When you think you got away with something — it kind of emboldens you to continue what you’re doing," Waters said. “I guess he felt emboldened. Not so much now.”
Court records show Bass’s attorney entered a written not-guilty plea for these most recent charges and plans to motion for a bond reduction. He’s currently in jail on more than $1.5 million bond.
Video from the sheriff’s office shows illegal slot machines, fish tables, and desktop computers inside some of the raided locations. JSO said in total it seized 263 gambling machines.
“Where there’s illegal money, other crimes exist,” Waters said.
An arrest report of one of the suspects said members of the “JSO VICE Unit have taken note of the growing number of illegal gambling establishments,” and “JSO has also noted an increase in crime associated [with illegal gambling].”
Since Operation Fish and Chips began in March of 2023, JSO said there have been two murders, eight robberies, and 26 aggravated assaults at illegal gambling spots across the city.
“To those of you running those criminal enterprises, I’m speaking directly to you: we know you’re there, we know who you are, and we’re watching,” Waters said
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