DEERFIELD BEACH- A multi-agency law enforcement task force, led by the Broward Sheriff's Office's Money Laundering Task Force, has arrested 8 people suspected of operating a little league football gambling, game-fixing and drug ring in South Florida.
A press conference was held Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Westside Park in Deerfield Beach, where details were released.
The South Florida Times confirmed the arrests of Dave Small, 42, of Pompano Beach and Darron Bostic, 29, of Deerfield Beach on one count of bookmaking each.
Small is a coach with the Lauderhill Lions. Bostic is former coach of Deerfield Packer Rattlers and is now coaching with the Boca Raton Braves.
Both are being held in the Broward Main Jail on $15,000 bail.
Also arrested is Brandon Bennett, 36, of Fort Lauderdale. He is charged with one count of bookmaking and one count of operating a gambling house. He is being held in the Broward Main Jail on $100,000 bond. Bennett is a coach of the Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes.
Other suspects; Darren Brown, Vincent Gray, Brandon Lewis, Brad Parker, LaTaurus Fort and Willie Tindal were also arrested during raids that took place throughout South Florida on Monday.
An undetermined amount of cash and luxury vehicles were also seized.
The operation was set in place following a 2011 ESPN network program, Outside the Lines broadcast, which documented open-air gambling and drug sales at South Florida Youth League football games. More than 30,000 children ages 5 to 15 play in the league, which consists of teams located throughout Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
Drug dealers and other unsavory elements frequent the games, where betting is brisk and the pungent smell of drugs is the norm. Some parents are also paid to play for certain teams. Other parents were also paid to keep their children out of games, to lessen the likelihood of their team winning, according to sources.
"We take these types of activities seriously and will continue to monitor the situation at our parks," Police Chief Adderley said, while declining to comment further.
*Pictured above from left to right is Darron Bostic, Dave Small and Brandon Bivin.
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