SANFORD, Fla. (AP) - Jurors will begin deliberations after receiving jury instructions in the trial of an attorney accused of helping to build a multimillion-dollar network of storefront casinos throughout Florida under the guise of a veterans' charity.
Jurors at Kelly Mathis' trial on Thursday were hearing closing rebuttal arguments from prosecutors before being instructed in the law.
Mathis is the first of more than 50 other defendants to go on trial in the Allied Veterans of World case that led to the resignation of Florida's lieutenant governor and a ban on all Internet cafes in the state. It also drove legislators to return campaign donations made by the group.
During closing arguments on Thursday, his defense attorney told jurors that prosecutors had misinterpreted what was a gaming promotion and labeled it as gambling.
