Angela Suggs, the current athletic director at Florida A&M University, has submitted to authorities in Tallahassee, Florida, after being charged with multiple felonies related to her previous job.
The charges come after a months-long investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, during which it was discovered that she misused her business-issued credit card and racked up $24k in personal expenses.
The investigation began two months after she assumed the Vice President and Director of Athletics position with FAMU. Investigators clarified that the allegations are linked to her former employer, a job she had before taking the Athletics position at FAMU.
Former Employer & Explanation
Suggs formerly served as the president and CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation (FSF), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the sports industry in Florida. According to the FDLE, the FSF “functions as “a direct-support organization operating under the Florida Department of Commerce. ”
The investigation eventually showed that she had used the company-issued card for numerous personal expenses, including trips to the casino during business trips. She then allegedly tried to falsify those expenses as charges for meals.
When asked about the charges, she said they were accidentally charged to the business card. She also allegedly “failed “to fully repay FSF for her expenditures.”
FAMU has placed Suggs on Administrative leave with pay until further notice.
Florida Casinos
Casinos have had a bad reputation for years, as many people still believe the Hollywood depiction of gangsters and criminals running amok. However, that can’t be another truth from the Sunshine State, as Florida casinos are heavily regulated by the state and are only allowed on tribal land.
Florida has seven domestic casinos, six of which are owned by the Seminole Tribe and the Miccosukee Tribe. Recently, the Seminole Tribe launched Florida’s online casino from within state lines.
While commercial casinos have been barred from the state via the gambling compact, FL online casinos outside the state can still legally operate.
Florida Gambling Laws
There are no current state gambling laws that make online casinos illegal. However, the state does not authorize any online casino either. The Hard Rock Bet app is technically different as it operates from servers located on federal land and technically not the state of Florida.
Hard Rock is the Seminole Tribes staple brand, and there are four properties in Florida.