Florida Woman Arrested for Conducting Illegal Lottery, Selling Fake Tickets

In a surprising turn of events, Viviana Andrea Navarro Gonzalez, a 41-year-old Florida woman, was arrested for operating an illegal gambling establishment in a small shopping center store in West Palm Beach. The charges stem from her involvement in an underground “Bolita” operation, a lottery-style game with its own rules and better payouts than the state-sanctioned lotteries.

The Hidden Room and the Secret Phrase

• Investigators discovered a hidden room within Navarro Gonzalez’s store, where gambling machines and an illegal lottery were in play.
• To gain access to this clandestine area, customers needed to know the secret phrase: “La Bolita.”

Undercover Operations

• Undercover deputies from the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) made three separate visits to the establishment.
• On each occasion, they purchased fake lottery tickets using the code phrase.
• Inside the private room, they found casino-style slot machines and unregulated lottery games.

The Critical Moment

• The PCSO agents played random numbers for the “Bolita” lottery.
• Navarro Gonzalez, acting as the cashier, generated their tickets and handed them their receipts.
• This confirmed their suspicions of illegal gambling.

Navarro Gonzalez’s Role

• During an interview with police, conducted through an interpreter, Navarro Gonzalez claimed to be a regular employee at the business.
• She admitted that she did not know who she worked for or who paid her, receiving payment from “random people.”
• If a customer won the lottery using the numbers they played, payment would only occur if the store had sufficient funds.

Legal Consequences

• Navarro Gonzalez faced multiple charges related to operating an illegal gambling institution.
• She was booked at the Palm Beach County Jail but released the following day.

The case highlights the importance of enforcing regulations to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of legitimate lottery systems. As investigations continue, authorities remain vigilant against such illicit operations.