Dear Mr. Judd, law enforcement is always telling people to be vigilant of a
crime or suspicion of a crime being committed and to report it to the sheriff
or police department.
This is exactly what some concerned Lake Ashton residents have done in the
investigation of an illegal operation of Bingo and 50/50 games being conducted
in the Lake Ashton Golf Club community.
A resident's request to the LA HOA board for copies of all the Bingo records was
not given as required, and because of this denial residents for justice hired a
lawyer to attain the Bingo bank records. A forensic accounting financial
investigator and certified fraud examiner was hired to examine these records.
This evidence was turned over to the Sheriff's Office.
January 11, 2011, 1PM at the Lake Ashton Golf Club clubhouse, the Sheriff's
Department Investigative Team held a meeting to give a report on this case to
all those in attendance which included LA HOA Board Members, HOA attorney Daniel
Perry and residents of the community.
Detective Opitz stated even though many crimes have been committed by the misuse
of monies amounting in the thousands, tax evasion,and violation of the Bingo
Ordinance Laws, he was not making any charges and was dropping the case because
there are too many people involved and it would not be good for Lake Ashton.
Furthermore he has the LA HOA's word they will conduct Bingo within the law in
the future. This same HOA board did not honor a request for the Bingo records
which HOA President David Ross said were shredded which records have to be
retained for at least the last three years.How good is the HOA's word? My
personal opinion, the LA HOA's credibility has been lost. Paul Pontious was
First Bingo Director and he signed the majority of the Bingo money checks. He is
a current HOA board member. He is also a current Bingo committee member. Carol,
his wife was the Bingo bookkeeper and is a board member of the Lake Ashton CDD.
What authority does Mr.Opitz have to make the decision to drop the case?
What right does he have to say what's best for our community?
What is he saying, that it's better to let illegal activity go unpunished?
What good is it to have laws if they are not enforced?
How can there be respect for the laws if they are not enforced?
Law enforcements duty is to enforce the laws. In this case, that's not being
done.
An injustice has been done to the concerned residents that reported this illegal
conduction of Bingo.
Time and money was spent by these residents to gather the proof of evidence to
give the authorities to aid their own investigation. The motivation was to rid
the corruption from our community in the hopes of making it a better community
to live.
I have always respected law enforcement and you, Mr. Judd. I cannot believe you
will let the dismissal of this case stand. Please don't disappoint me in my
faith and trust in you that you will proceed with this case to bring those
guilty to justice.
Mr. Judd, I would like your reply concerning this issue as soon as possible.
I am also requesting a copy of Gorgon Opitz's Final Report and reasons for
dismissal of the Lake Ashton Bingo case.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely, John L. Guenther
4172 Muirfield Loop
Lake Wales, Fl. 33859
863-324-2825
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