A magistrate yesterday confiscated almost $1 million that police seized during a raid on FML Web Shop two years ago.
Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis made the order for forfeiture after convicting FML principal Craig Flowers and his employees of offenses under the Lotteries and Gaming Act.
A police officer opened an online gaming account at the Wulff Road web shop on April 28, 2009, according to the evidence. The officer, Tyrone Clarke, said he obtained an account card and was given instructions on how to use www.nassaugames.com.
Although Flowers was not present when police descended on the web shop with a search warrant, Rolle-Davis noted that the business' license was in his name.
Police also seized $834,629.32 from the premises, which the court ordered confiscated as the proceeds of illegal gambling.
He said, "Mr. Flowers' physical presence was not needed to establish that he had knowledge [of the lottery or conducted it]."
Rolle-Davis convicted Flowers of permitting his premises to be used for a lottery and promoting, organizing and conducting a lottery.
Flowers, who according to his lawyer Alfred Sears has 200 employees, was given the option of paying a total of $10,000 in fines or spending two years in prison.
The web shop's general manager, Kingsley Munroe, was convicted of being found on the premises of a lottery, permitting a premises to be used for a lottery and promoting a lottery.
He was fined $5,000 on each count and will spend two years in prison if the fines are not paid.
Rhodista Rolle, the web shop's manager, admitted during her police interview that the business encouraged illegal gambling.
She too was convicted of being on a lottery premises, permitting a premises to be used for a lottery and promoting a lottery.  The court imposed fines totaling $10,500 and she is liable to a two-year prison sentence if the fines are unpaid.
Cashier Anwar McDonald; accounts assistant Nyoka Myer; employee Nikita Patton; supervisor Mikia Stubbs; receptionist Andrea Pratt; office assistant Germaine Williams Rahming; administrative assistant Chavon Stubbs; security guard Timothy Huyler; and customer Vernita Mackey were convicted of being found on a lottery premises.
Andrinique Dean, a cashier, was convicted of being found on the premises and convicted of promoting a lottery.
Human Resources manager Rolinda Pierre admitted the company was lottery-based, was convicted of being on a lottery premises, conducting a lottery and permitting a premises to be used as a lottery.
Rolle-Davis gave all the defendants a week to pay the fines.
However, their lawyers Alfred Sears and Terrell Butler said they plan to appeal the decision.
Jillian Williams, chief counsel in the Office of the Attorney General, prosecuted.

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