Woman who continued to run illegal slot machines despite warnings from sheriff’s office gets probation

A woman who continued to operate illegal slot machines despite repeated warnings from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office received probation time as part of a plea deal on Thursday.

Phalla Colman, 55, was sentenced to two years probation on Thursday morning after being convicted of operating an illegal gambling establishment, operating an illegal lottery and possession of slot machines. She was also forced to forfeit the 111 computer monitors, 79 computer towers and more than $3,000 seized by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office during the investigation.

“The defendant is well aware that her business is illegal, as she has maintained several gambling establishments, and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has afforded her the opportunity to close her businesses and not face charges,” sheriff’s office Detective Kim Zink wrote in the warrant affidavit. “However, the defendant repeatedly and purposely opens another illegal gambling house, using rooms full of computers that are considered slot machines.”

Last month, Colman pleaded guilty to all the charges. All the terms of her sentencing were not negotiated, but it had been agreed that she would not serve any jail or prison time and that she would have to forfeit the money and equipment seized during the investigation.

The defense had argued to withhold the conviction from Colman’s record, but Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll ruled to convict her on all the charges as argued by the prosecution and the sheriff’s office.

“I would like to thank Detective Zink,” Assistant State Attorney Andrew Van Sickle later told the Herald. “She did a really fantastic job. I hope the computers go to a good home.”

Details of what the sheriff’s office did with the seized computers were not immediately available.

This story was originally published August 3, 2017 at 6:29 PM with the headline "Woman who continued to run illegal slot machines despite warnings from sheriff’s office gets probation."