Attorney Who Led $300 Million Gambling Ring Wants Case Thrown Out

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Associated Press) - An attorney convicted of leading a $300 million gambling ring that used a veterans charity as a front is asking an appeals court to throw out his 6-year prison sentence.

The Florida Times-Union reports that Jacksonville attorney Kelly Mathis says in filings to a Daytona Beach appeals court that the judge in his case refused to allow him to introduce evidence that would have proved his innocence. Mathis was convicted in 2013 of 103 counts of racketeering, possessing slot machines and other charges.

Mathis was accused of operating dozens of so-called Internet cafes throughout the state. He was one of 57 initially arrested in the Allied Veterans case and the only one to receive prison time.

The case led to the resignation of Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll and caused the Florida Legislature to ban Internet cafes earlier in 2013.