Sweepstakes Cafe Case: Arrest Warrant Issued

The owner of a Palm Harbor internet sweepstakes cafe that was raided last year by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, now has a warrant out for her arrest.

An arrest warrant was issued on Wednesday April 18, for Megan Crisante, the 23 year-old owner of Palm Harbor Internet Services located at 38541 U.S. 19, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

Crisante is charged with 45 counts of Possession of Coin Operated Devices and one count of Operating a Gambling Establishment. Investigators say she is known to live at a home in Sanford, which is in Seminole County. Authorities there are helping detectives to locate her. 

"It's the appropriate thing... Im glad were able to get the warrant," said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri. 

Sweepstakes cafes sell phone cards that also contain free sweepstakes points that can be used to play online games in the cafe. The controversy over their legality and safety has attracted national attention.

In July, Pinellas County Sheriff's Deputies raided Crisante's business along with two other internet sweepstakes cafes in Pinellas County. Deputies seized 200 computers during the raids and confiscated $20,000 in cash. Palm Harbor Internet Services has been closed since then.

"What our protocol has been is to investigate these when they're complaint driven and we usually send a letter to somebody telling them that what they're doing is unlawful and ask them to cease and desist, to stop. If they don't, we continue with the investigation and if it's appropriate then we'll secure the necessary warrants and criminal process and conduct a criminal investigation," said Gualtieri.

Crisante did not own the business for long before it was raided. Palm Harbor Patch interviewed her in June of 2011, shortly after she purchased the business from State Rep. Peter Nehr and renamed it.

"We operate to the T of the law… we're not hurting anybody, we're not operating illegally," Cristante said.

The internet cafe used to be called Fun City when Nehr owned it. However, Nehr closed it in May of 2011 after owning it for only a few months. He announced that he divested himself from all financial interests in the business and shut it down at the request of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 

"After careful deliberation, I have decided not to take this issue to court. I do not want my legislative office or the Florida Legislature to be involved in any unnecessary media attention that will detract from our main focus of getting Florida's economy back on track," Nehr said in a statement.

The move came in response to a letter Sheriff Jim Coats had sent Nehr claiming the business was using illegal coin-operated gambling devices, which in previous instances resulted in criminal charges being filed against the owners. Coats cited Florida Gambling Statutes 849.15, 849.16 and 849.01. 

As for Megan Crisante, her relatives have some experience when it comes to owning sweepstakes cafes and defending charges against them.

Back in October of 2010, a Marion county jury found Megan Crisante's stepmother, Jeaneen Crisante, not guilty of operating a gambling house and possessing slot machines, both are felony charges. Jeaneen Crisante had operated a sweepstakes cafe in Marion county called Marion Internet Services. Her husband Timothy often helped out at the business. 

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