Former state attorney’s office employee arrested in illegal gambling scheme

A former state attorney’s office employee is accused of running an illegal gambling scheme at the Moose Lodge in Golden Gate Estates.

On Tuesday, Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco busted the Moose Lodge for illegally operating a gaming house for having a slot machine.

The report shows Howard Clark, 68, was arrested.

Clark worked at the state attorney’s office for nearly 12 years, from 2001 to 2013.

“If it’s legal, it’s fine,” said Golden Gate Estates resident Mark Muilenburg. “If it’s illegal, then he had it coming, and he was trying to make a little extra money.”

In this case, it’s illegal because Howard wasn’t at a licensed betting location. He was at the Moose Lodge, a fraternal organization that raises money for charities.

This isn’t the first time the organization has run into trouble.

Back in 2016, police and state agents raided six local lodges for the same thing, illegal gambling.

WINK News reached out to the Golden Gate Estates Moose Lodge, the organization said they have no comment and denied owning a slot machine. WINK News also reached out to other Moose Lodges in southwest Florida and all organizations declined to talk about the incident, but are willing to discuss the charity work the organization does.

MORE: SWFL Moose Lodges targeted during illegal gambling raids

CORRECTION: An earlier version of the story incorrectly stated the agency involved. The warrant was issued by the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco.