Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION, DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING
Respondent: REYNOLDS SUZREZ
Judges: LISA SHEARER NELSON
Agency: Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Locations: Hialeah, Florida
Filed: Nov. 09, 2018
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, November 29, 2018.
Latest Update: Dec. 27, 2024
FILED
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
Deputy Agency Clerk
CLERK Evetle Lawson-Proctor
Date 6/11/2018
STATE OF FLORIDA File #
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION
DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND
PROFESSIONAL REGULATION,
DIVISION OF PARI-MUTUEL WAGERING,
Petitioner,
v. DBPR Case No. 2018-001104
REYNOLDS SUAREZ,
Respondent.
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Pari-Mutuel
Wagering (“Petitioner”) files this Administrative Complaint against Reynolds Suarez
(“Respondent”) and alleges:
1. Petitioner is the state agency charged with regulating pari-mutuel wagering, slot
machine operations, and cardroom gaming pursuant to chapters 550, 551, and section 849.086,
Florida Statutes.
2. At all times material hereto, Respondent was a patron of Hialeah Park Racing and
Casino (“Hialeah”).
3. Hialeah is a facility operated by a permitholder authorized to conduct pari-mutuel
wagering, operate a cardroom, and offer slot machine gaming by the Petitioner in accordance
with chapters 550, 551, and section 849.086, Florida Statutes.
4. On or about December 28, 2017, Respondent was observed attempting to
manipulate slot machine A29-01 (‘the slot machine”) by methodically alternating between
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placing a cellular telephone on the slot machine, with its screen side down, while pressing the
slot machine’s “play” button and thereupon removing the cellular telephone to inspect its screen
approximately six (6) times.
5. On or about December 29, 2017, Respondent was permanently trespassed by
Hialeah.
6. Section 551.109(4), Florida Statutes, states “[a]ny person who manipulates or
attempts to manipulate the outcome, payoff, or operation of a slot machine by physical tampering
or by use of any object, instrument, or device, whether mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or
involving other means, commits a felony in the third degree, punishable as provided in s.
775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.083.”
7. Section 551.112, Florida Statutes, provides in full:
In addition to the power to exclude certain persons from any
facility of a slot machine licensee in this state, the division may
exclude any person from any facility of a slot machine licensee in
this state for conduct that would constitute, if the person were a
licensee, a violation of this chapter or the rules of the division. The
division may exclude from any facility of a slot machine licensee
any person who has been ejected from a facility of a slot machine
licensee in this state or who has been excluded from any facility of
a slot machine licensee or gaming facility in another state by the
governmental department, agency, commission, or authority
exercising regulatory jurisdiction over the gaming in such other
state. This section does not abrogate the common law right of a
slot machine licensee to exclude a patron absolutely in this state.
(emphasis added).
COUNT I
8. Petitioner hereby realleges and incorporates the allegations contained in
paragraphs one through seven as though fully set forth herein.
9. Based on the foregoing, Respondent is subject to exclusion from all licensed slot
machine facilities in this state for manipulating or attempting to manipulate the outcome, payoff,
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or operation of a slot machine by physical tampering or by use of any object, instrument, or
device at Hialeah on or about December 28, 2017.
COUNT II
10. Petitioner hereby realleges and incorporates the allegations contained in
paragraphs one through seven as though fully set forth herein.
11. Based on the foregoing, Respondent is subject to exclusion from all licensed slot
machine facilities in this state based on his ejection from Hialeah occurring on or about
December 29, 2017.
COUNT III
12. Petitioner hereby realleges and incorporates the allegations contained in
paragraphs one through five as though fully set forth herein.
13. Section 550.0251(6), Florida States, states in pertinent part that:
In addition to the power to exclude certain persons from any
facility in the state, the division may exclude any person from any
and all pari-mutuel facilities in this state for conduct that would
constitute, if the person were a licensee, a violation of this chapter
or the rules of the division. The division may exclude from any
pari-mutuel facility within this state any person who has been
ejected from _a_pari-mutuel facility in this state or who has been
excluded from any pari-mutuel facility in another state by the
governmental department, agency, commission, or authority
exercising regulatory jurisdiction over pari-mutuel facilities in
such other state.
(emphasis supplied).
14. Based on the foregoing, Respondent is subject to exclusion from all pari-mutuel
facilities licensed in this state based on his ejectment from Hialeah on or about December 29,
2017.
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WHEREFORE, Petitioner respectfully requests the Division Director enter an Order
permanently excluding Respondent from all licensed pari-mutuel and slot machine facilities in
the state along with any other penalties authorized by chapters 550, 551, and/or section 849.086,
Florida Statutes, and/or the rules promulgated thereunder.
Signed this 7th day of June, 2018.
/s/ James A. Lewts /s/ Louis Trombetta
JAMES A. LEWIS LOUIS TROMBETTA
Assistant General Counsel Chief Attorney
Florida Bar No. 1002349 Florida Bar No. 0108119
James.Lewis@MyFloridaLicense.com Louis. Trombetta@MyFloridaLicense.com
Office of the General Counsel
Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
2601 Blair Stone Road, Mail Stop N21
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2202
Telephone: (850)-717-1585
Facsimile: (850) 921-1311
NOTICE OF RIGHTS TO REQUEST A HEARING
Pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, you have the right to request a
hearing to challenge the charges contained in this Administrative Complaint. If you choose to
request a hearing, you will have the right to be represented by counsel, or other qualified
representative, to present evidence and argument, to call and cross-examine witnesses, and to have
subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued on your behalf.
Any request for an administrative proceeding to challenge or contest the charges contained in
this Administrative Complaint must conform to rule 28-106.2015, Florida Administrative Code.
Pursuant to rule 28-106.111(4), Florida Administrative Code, you must request a hearing within 21
days from receipt of this Notice, or you will waive your right to request a hearing.
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Docket for Case No: 18-005920