Eight people suspected of operating a little league football gambling, game-fixing and drug ring in South Florida have been arrested, authorities say.
The details were released at a press conference on Tuesday in Deerfield Beach, a community about 40 miles north of Miami.
The operation was set in place following a 2011 ESPN network program, Outside the Lines broadcast, which documented open-air gambling and drug sales at South Florida Youth League football games.
More than 30,000 children ages 5 to 15 play in the league.
Drug dealers and other unsavory elements frequent the games, where betting is brisk and the pungent smell of drugs is the norm. Some parents are also paid to play for certain teams. Other parents were also paid to keep their children out of games, to lessen the likelihood of their team winning, according to sources.
There is much more to this story from The South Florida Times, to read about it CLICK HERE.
TXT 24
Twitter
Facebook