MARTIN J. ZARCADOOLAS v. GREGORY TONY, as Sheriff of Broward County ( 2023 )


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  •            DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA
    FOURTH DISTRICT
    MARTIN J. ZARCADOOLAS,
    Appellant,
    v.
    GREGORY TONY, as Sheriff of Broward County,
    Appellee.
    No. 4D21-2227
    [January 4, 2023]
    Appeal of a nonfinal order from the Circuit Court for the Seventeenth Judicial
    Circuit, Broward County; Nicholas Richard Lopane, Judge; L.T. Case No.
    CACE21-009212.
    Howard M. Srebnick, Benjamin S. Waxman, and Jeanelle Gomez of Black
    Srebnick, P.A., Miami, for appellant.
    Kristin Mackenzie, Assistant General Counsel, Broward County Sheriff’s
    Office, Fort Lauderdale, for appellee.
    PER CURIAM.
    This nonfinal appeal arises from a civil forfeiture action filed by the Broward
    County Sheriff’s Office (“BSO”) pursuant to the Florida Contraband Forfeiture
    Act, sections 932.701–.7062, Florida Statutes (2020) (“the Forfeiture Act”). The
    property at issue includes seized bank accounts owned by appellant Martin
    Zarcadoolas and his company as well as items that were seized from
    Zarcadoolas’s home pursuant to a search warrant.
    Zarcadoolas appeals two orders: (1) an order denying his motion to suppress
    evidence of items seized following a search of his home, and (2) an order finding
    probable cause under the Forfeiture Act for the continued seizure of those items
    and the seized bank accounts. We reverse both orders and remand with
    instructions to order BSO to return the property to Zarcadoolas.
    Background
    In December 2018, BSO received an anonymous tip stating that an
    organization based primarily in Broward County was engaged in illegal gambling,
    bookmaking, and money laundering activity. In March 2019, BSO received
    another anonymous tip providing more information about the organization’s
    activities.
    The organization allegedly used offshore websites to take high-dollar bets on
    various sporting events, collected its proceeds in cash, and then laundered the
    cash in various ways. BSO investigated the organization from December 2018
    through March 2021, and allegedly developed probable cause to believe that
    Zarcadoolas was one of its members.
    In April 2021, Agent W of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office (“PBSO”)
    applied to a circuit court judge in Palm Beach County for a warrant to search
    Zarcadoolas’s home, which was located in Palm Beach County. Agent W was the
    only officer who signed the affidavit in support of the search warrant. In the
    affidavit, Agent W stated that he had probable cause to believe that Zarcadoolas
    and other members of the organization had committed racketeering,
    bookmaking, and money laundering offenses and that evidence relevant to
    proving those offenses would be found in Zarcadoolas’s home.
    Agent W stated in the affidavit that his training and experience was in road
    patrol, SWAT operations, and narcotics investigations. Nonetheless, the affidavit
    declared that Agent W relied on his “training and experience” to interpret certain
    observations as evidence of bookmaking and money laundering activity. The
    affidavit also relied heavily on information and communications obtained from
    “confidential, reliable sources,” which were later revealed to be wiretapped
    conversations, in addition to the information obtained from the anonymous
    tipsters.
    Agent W’s affidavit reflected that BSO first learned about Zarcadoolas in
    January 2020 and investigated him closely from August 2020 through November
    2020. The affidavit contained detailed observations from that timeframe and
    alleged that Zarcadoolas’s conduct was in furtherance of the organization’s
    bookmaking and money laundering activities. The only post-November 2020
    observations were that Zarcadoolas communicated with two other alleged
    members of the organization in February and March 2021 and met with an
    alleged associate of the organization in late March 2021. The affidavit did not
    reflect the content of the communications or the purpose of the meeting, nor did
    it allege that any of Zarcadoolas’s conduct after November 2020 was in
    furtherance of the organization’s criminal activities.
    Upon review of the affidavit, the judge authorized the search warrant for
    Zarcadoolas’s home. PBSO executed the warrant and seized, among other items,
    $196,733 in cash, gold coins valued collectively at $44,400, and $9,000 in casino
    chips. On the same day, PBSO executed seizure warrants on two bank accounts:
    a Bank of America account owned by Zarcadoolas with a balance of $165,412.41,
    2
    and a Chase Bank account owned by Zarcadoolas’s company, MZ Solutions,
    LLC, with a balance of $598,904.81. 1
    Two days later, BSO notified Zarcadoolas that it was seizing the funds in the
    two bank accounts, as well as the cash, gold coins, and casino chips that were
    seized from his home, pursuant to the Forfeiture Act. A circuit court judge in
    Broward County made an initial finding that probable cause existed for the
    seizure of the property as “monetary instruments” under section 932.703(1)(a)5.
    and “contraband articles” under sections 932.701(2)(a)2. and 932.701(2)(a)5.
    See § 932.703(2), Fla. Stat. (2020). BSO then filed a verified complaint for
    forfeiture of the property. To date, no criminal charges have been filed against
    Zarcadoolas.
    Zarcadoolas requested an adversarial preliminary hearing to determine
    whether the continued seizure of the property was supported by probable cause
    to believe that it had been or was being used in violation of the Forfeiture Act.
    See § 932.703(3)(a), Fla. Stat. (2020). He also moved to suppress the items that
    were seized from his home pursuant to the search warrant, arguing primarily
    that the affidavit did not establish probable cause to believe that evidence of
    racketeering, bookmaking, or money laundering offenses would be found in his
    home.
    The testimony at the adversarial preliminary hearing established that Agent
    W was not the true author of the affidavit in support of the search warrant. The
    affidavit was actually drafted by BSO Detective F. This detective asked Agent W
    to co-sign the affidavit for jurisdictional purposes only, because Zarcadoolas’s
    home was in Palm Beach County. But Detective F was unable to sign the
    affidavit because of a computer problem, so it was submitted with only Agent
    W’s signature. The references in the affidavit to “the affiant” or the affiant’s
    “training and experience” were intended to refer to Detective F. The sole affiant
    identified on the affidavit, Agent W, did not have any personal knowledge of the
    investigation, did not listen to any of the wiretapped conversations or have direct
    contact with any of the other sources cited in the affidavit, and did not have any
    training or experience in bookmaking or money laundering investigations.
    A different BSO detective, Detective B, submitted an affidavit and testified in
    support of probable cause for the continued seizure of the property under the
    Forfeiture Act. Detective B expressed his belief that Zarcadoolas was using his
    company, MZ Solutions, as a “front” to launder the proceeds from the
    organization’s bookmaking activity. He testified that the Chase Bank account,
    which was owned by MZ Solutions, had an unusually high number of deposits
    and withdrawals in whole-number increments.             He also testified that
    Zarcadoolas often transferred money from the Chase Bank account to his
    personal Bank of America account, and he believed that those transfers were a
    1   Zarcadoolas has not challenged the bank accounts’ seizure warrants.
    3
    “layering” step in the money laundering process. But he conceded that although
    the organization’s bookmaking activity was alleged to have been conducted
    mostly in cash, almost all of the funds in the Chase Bank and Bank of America
    accounts actually came from noncash sources. He admitted that he could not
    identify any specific deposits to either bank account that could have been cash
    proceeds from the organization’s alleged bookmaking activity.
    Zarcadoolas presented testimony from a forensic accountant, who confirmed
    that almost all of the funds in the Chase Bank and Bank of America accounts
    came from noncash sources. He testified that most of the deposits to the Chase
    Bank account were direct deposits from two companies in which Zarcadoolas
    and MZ Solutions had ownership interests. Only one cash deposit of $2,500 was
    made to the account during the time frame that BSO alleged Zarcadoolas was
    laundering the organization’s money. As to the Bank of America account, most
    of the deposits were transfers from the Chase Bank account. Only one cash
    deposit of $32,700 was made to the account during the relevant time frame, and
    Zarcadoolas had won legal gambling proceeds of about $40,000 in cash around
    the time that deposit was made. The accountant also testified that, because
    Zarcadoolas was MZ Solutions’ sole member, his transferring money from the
    company’s Chase Bank account to his personal Bank of America account was
    not improper or unusual.
    Detective B testified in rebuttal that he believed the two companies which
    were the primary sources of the funds in the Chase Bank account were part of
    the organization’s money laundering scheme. But he conceded that he could
    not identify any specific deposits to either company’s bank accounts that could
    have been cash proceeds from the organization’s alleged bookmaking activity.
    After the hearing, Zarcadoolas filed a supplemental motion to suppress,
    arguing the hearing testimony established that the affidavit contained materially
    false statements about Agent W’s role in the investigation.
    The court denied Zarcadoolas’s motion to suppress the items that were seized
    from his home pursuant to the search warrant. As to whether BSO had probable
    cause under the Forfeiture Act to support the continued seizure of those items
    as well as the two seized bank accounts, the court initially suggested that
    Zarcadoolas lacked standing because he did not present sworn proof of a
    possessory or ownership interest in the property. But the court ultimately ruled
    on the merits that there was probable cause under the Forfeiture Act to support
    the continued seizure of the property.
    Zarcadoolas timely appealed both orders. 2
    2The order finding probable cause under the Forfeiture Act for the continued seizure of
    the property is appealable because it determines “the right to immediate possession of
    property.” Fla. R. App. P. 9.130(a)(3)(C)(ii). The scope of the appeal includes the order
    4
    Analysis
    We address two distinct but related issues in this opinion: (1) whether the
    trial court erred in denying Zarcadoolas’s motion to suppress the items that were
    seized from his home pursuant to the search warrant, either because the affidavit
    on its face failed to establish probable cause for the search or because the
    affidavit contained false statements without which probable cause could not
    have been established; and (2) whether the court erred in finding probable cause
    under the Forfeiture Act for the continued seizure of the two seized bank
    accounts and the items that were seized from Zarcadoolas’s home.
    I. Motion to Suppress
    We first address whether the trial court erred in denying Zarcadoolas’s motion
    to suppress the items that were seized from his home pursuant to the search
    warrant—the cash, the gold coins, and the casino chips.
    Zarcadoolas raises two main arguments: first, the affidavit in support of the
    search warrant was insufficient to establish probable cause; and second, even if
    the affidavit had been sufficient on its face, the testimony at the adversarial
    preliminary hearing revealed that it contained materially false statements about
    Agent W’s role in the investigation. We agree with Zarcadoolas on both issues.
    A. Insufficiency of the Affidavit
    To establish probable cause for a search warrant, the supporting affidavit
    must demonstrate a reasonable probability, based on the totality of the
    circumstances, that evidence of a crime will be found at the place to be searched
    at the time of the search. Pagan v. State, 
    830 So. 2d 792
    , 806 (Fla. 2002).
    Whether probable cause exists must be determined from the four corners of the
    affidavit. Id.; Pardo v. State, 
    941 So. 2d 1057
    , 1066 (Fla. 2006). The trial court’s
    determination of probable cause is a legal issue subject to de novo review. Pagan,
    
    830 So. 2d at 806
    .
    The affidavit in this case was insufficient to establish probable cause for three
    main reasons. First, the affidavit arguably indicated on its face that Agent W did
    not have the necessary training and experience to evaluate the results of the
    investigation and develop probable cause to believe that evidence of racketeering,
    denying the motion to suppress because Fourth Amendment issues are “inextricably
    bound up with” determinations of probable cause under the Forfeiture Act. Indialantic
    Police Dep’t v. Zimmerman, 
    677 So. 2d 1307
    , 1309 (Fla. 5th DCA 1996); see also
    Toussaint v. City of Fort Lauderdale, 
    215 So. 3d 602
    , 603 (Fla. 4th DCA 2017) (evidence
    obtained in violation of the Fourth Amendment must be excluded from a determination
    of probable cause under the Forfeiture Act).
    5
    bookmaking, and money laundering offenses would be found in Zarcadoolas’s
    home. The affidavit stated that Agent W’s training and experience was in road
    patrol, SWAT operations, and narcotics investigations—not racketeering,
    bookmaking, or money laundering investigations. But, at the same time, the
    affidavit reflected that Agent W relied heavily on his “training and experience” to
    interpret certain observations and communications, most of which would have
    otherwise seemed innocuous, as evidence of bookmaking and money laundering
    activity.
    Second, the affidavit relied on anonymous tips and “confidential, reliable
    sources” without demonstrating any basis to conclude that those sources were
    knowledgeable and reliable. See Franks v. Delaware, 
    438 U.S. 154
    , 165 (1978)
    (if an affidavit relies on information from an anonymous or confidential informant
    to establish probable cause, it must recite “some of the underlying circumstances
    from which the informant concluded that relevant evidence might be discovered”
    and “some of the underlying circumstances from which the officer concluded
    that the informant . . . was credible or his information reliable”) (internal
    quotations omitted)); Pagan, 
    830 So. 2d at 806
     (an affidavit “must state that the
    affiant has personal knowledge of the confidential informant’s veracity” or “must
    contain sufficient independent corroborating evidence”).
    As to the anonymous tips, the affidavit did not explain the basis for the
    tipsters’ knowledge or demonstrate that the tips were reliable because they
    contained predictive information that was later corroborated. See Florida v. J.L.,
    
    529 U.S. 266
    , 270–71 (2000). As to the “confidential, reliable sources” cited
    throughout the affidavit, testimony at the adversarial preliminary hearing
    revealed that those “sources” were wiretapped conversations, but that fact was
    not apparent on the face of the affidavit. See Pardo, 
    941 So. 2d at 1066
     (probable
    cause must be determined “not from witness testimony but from the four corners
    of the affidavit”).
    Third, and finally, the allegations in the affidavit were too stale to establish
    probable cause to believe that evidence of racketeering, bookmaking, and money
    laundering offenses would be found in Zarcadoolas’s home at the time of the
    search. See Pagan, 
    830 So. 2d at 806
     (requiring a reasonable probability that
    evidence of a crime will be found “at a particular place and time” (emphasis
    added)); Cruz v. State, 
    788 So. 2d 375
    , 379 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001) (“the passage of
    time is an important factor in support of the existence of probable cause”); see
    also Rodriguez v. State, 
    297 So. 2d 15
    , 18 (Fla. 1974) (recognizing a 30-day “rule
    of thumb” for staleness absent a showing of “extraordinary circumstances”).
    The affidavit reflected that BSO investigated Zarcadoolas closely from August
    2020 through November 2020. But left unexplained was a lapse in the
    investigation between November 2020 and February 2021. After this lapse, the
    affidavit alleged only that Zarcadoolas communicated and met with alleged
    6
    members and associates of the organization in February and March 2021. Agent
    W did not apply for the search warrant until mid-April 2021. The affidavit did
    not explain or justify the gap of more than four months between the last real
    allegation of criminal activity—in November 2020—and the time Agent W applied
    for the search warrant—in April 2021. The affidavit also did not reveal the
    substance or purpose of Zarcadoolas’s communications and meetings with
    alleged members and associates of the organization in February and March 2021
    or set forth any evidence that the organization’s criminal activity was ongoing at
    that time. See Cruz, 
    788 So. 2d at
    378–79 (evidence of a “pattern of ongoing
    criminal activity” may overcome an argument that the allegations in an affidavit
    are too stale to establish probable cause). In short, the affidavit did not
    demonstrate any reasonable basis to believe that evidence of the organization’s
    criminal activity would be found in Zarcadoolas’s home at the time of the search.
    In summary, based on the totality of the circumstances, we conclude that the
    affidavit in this case was insufficient on its face to establish probable cause for
    the search warrant.
    B. False Statements in the Affidavit
    Alternatively, even if the affidavit had been sufficient on its face to establish
    probable cause for the search warrant, we agree with Zarcadoolas that the
    testimony at the adversarial preliminary hearing demonstrated the affidavit
    contained false statements or omissions about Agent W’s role in the
    investigation, without which probable cause could not have been established.
    Evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant must be suppressed if it is
    established at an evidentiary hearing that (1) the affidavit in support of the
    search warrant contained false statements made knowingly and intentionally or
    with reckless disregard for the truth, or omitted facts with intent to deceive or
    with reckless disregard for whether the facts should have been revealed, and (2)
    the false statements were necessary to the finding of probable cause, or the
    omitted facts would have defeated the finding of probable cause. See Franks,
    
    438 U.S. at
    155–56; Pardo, 
    941 So. 2d at
    1066–67; Pagan, 
    830 So. 2d at 807
    ;
    Johnson v. State, 
    660 So. 2d 648
    , 655–56 (Fla. 1995).
    The affidavit in this case, as submitted to the Palm Beach County judge, was
    signed only by Agent W. The affidavit was written as if Agent W had been directly
    involved in the investigation and had the necessary training and experience to
    evaluate the results of the investigation and develop probable cause to justify the
    search of Zarcadoolas’s home.
    But the testimony at the adversarial preliminary hearing revealed that Agent
    W did not actually contribute to the drafting of the affidavit. Detective F wrote
    the affidavit, referring to her own training, experience, and involvement in the
    investigation. Agent W was meant to co-sign the affidavit for jurisdictional
    7
    purposes only. Contrary to the affidavit’s express and implied statements, Agent
    W was not personally involved in the investigation, did not observe any of the
    evidence or listen to any of the wiretapped conversations cited in the affidavit,
    and did not have any training or experience in bookmaking or money laundering
    investigations. These facts were not revealed to the judge when Agent W
    submitted the affidavit in support of his application for a search warrant.
    These false statements or omissions regarding the authorship of the affidavit
    and Agent W’s role in the investigation were not the result of “neglect or innocent
    mistake.” See Johnson, 
    660 So. 2d at 655
    . The statements were made, if not
    with intent to deceive the judge, at least with reckless disregard for whether the
    judge should have been informed of the truth. See Franks, 
    438 U.S. at
    155–56;
    Pardo, 
    941 So. 2d at
    1066–67; Pagan, 
    830 So. 2d at 807
    ; Johnson, 
    660 So. 2d at
    655–56. Agent W and Detective F both knew that Detective F should have
    signed and sworn to the affidavit, but after she ran into a computer problem,
    they inexplicably decided to submit the affidavit with only Agent W’s signature.
    We cannot conclude that the judge would have found probable cause for the
    search warrant if he had known the truth: the sole signer of the probable cause
    affidavit, Agent W, had no personal knowledge of the investigation; Agent W was
    meant to co-sign the affidavit for jurisdictional purposes only; and Agent W was
    relying solely on second-hand, unsworn representations of officers from another
    jurisdiction. 3
    Accordingly, the trial court erred in denying Zarcadoolas’s motion to suppress
    the items that were seized from his home pursuant to the search warrant—the
    cash, the gold coins, and the casino chips. On remand, the court must suppress
    these items.
    II. Probable Cause Under the Forfeiture Act
    We next address whether the trial court erred in finding probable cause under
    the Forfeiture Act for the continued seizure of the items that were taken from
    Zarcadoolas’s home and the two seized bank accounts. We review de novo
    whether the facts before the court were legally sufficient to establish probable
    3 We reject BSO’s reliance on the “fellow officer” rule, which provides that an officer
    seeking a search warrant generally can rely on evidence gathered by other officers if the
    officers’ collective knowledge supports a finding of probable cause. See State v. Bowers,
    
    87 So. 3d 704
    , 708–09 (Fla. 2012). When the existence of probable cause depends on
    evidence obtained by other officers from an anonymous or confidential source, the officer
    seeking the search warrant must have knowledge of the other officers’ basis for finding
    the source to be reliable. See id.; State v. Peterson, 
    739 So. 2d 561
    , 564–68 (Fla. 1999).
    There was no testimony in this case that Agent W was aware of BSO’s basis for
    concluding that the anonymous tips were reliable or that he knew the “confidential,
    reliable sources” cited in the affidavit were in fact wiretapped conversations.
    8
    cause. City of Coral Springs v. Forfeiture of a 1997 Ford Ranger Pickup Truck,
    
    803 So. 2d 847
    , 849 (Fla. 4th DCA 2002).
    A forfeiture proceeding consists of two stages: (1) the probable cause stage,
    where the seizing agency must establish probable cause to believe that the
    property at issue has been used in violation of the Forfeiture Act in order to
    justify the continued seizure of the property; and (2) the forfeiture trial, where
    the seizing agency must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the property has
    been used in violation of the Forfeiture Act, and must prove by a preponderance
    of the evidence that the owner knew or should have known that the property was
    being used in criminal activity, in order to obtain title to the property. See §§
    932.703(3)(a), (3)(c), (7)(a), .704(8), Fla. Stat. (2020); see also Gomez v. Vill. of
    Pinecrest, 
    41 So. 3d 180
    , 184–85 (Fla. 2010); Velez v. Miami-Dade Cnty. Police
    Dep’t, 
    934 So. 2d 1162
    , 1164 (Fla. 2006).
    As an initial matter, we reject the notion that Zarcadoolas lacked standing to
    challenge the continued seizure of the property because he did not introduce
    sworn proof of a possessory or ownership interest. At the probable cause stage,
    a person can show standing by establishing only that he or she possessed the
    property at the time it was seized; no proof of an ownership interest is required.
    See §§ 932.703(3)(a), .701(2)(e), Fla. Stat. (2020) (any “person entitled to notice”
    of the seizure, which includes any “owner, entity, bona fide lienholder, or person
    in possession of the property subject to forfeiture when seized,” may request an
    adversarial hearing to determine whether probable cause exists (emphasis
    added)); see also Velez, 
    934 So. 2d at 1164-67
    ; City of Fort Lauderdale v. Baruch,
    
    718 So. 2d 843
    , 846 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998).
    Here, the undisputed facts established that Zarcadoolas possessed the
    property at the time it was seized: the cash, gold coins, and casino chips were
    taken from his home; the Bank of America account was registered in his name;
    and the Chase Bank account was registered to a company in which he was the
    sole member. See Jean-Louis v. Forfeiture of $203,595.00 in U.S. Currency, 
    767 So. 2d 595
    , 596, 598 (Fla. 4th DCA 2000) (married couple was in possession of
    cash at the time it was seized, for the purpose of establishing standing at the
    probable cause stage, because the cash was found in their car during a traffic
    stop and the husband claimed the cash belonged to his business).
    To justify the continued seizure of Zarcadoolas’s property, BSO had the
    burden of establishing probable cause to believe that the property was used in
    violation of the Forfeiture Act. See §§ 932.701(2)(f), .703(3)(a), (3)(c), Fla. Stat.
    (2020); Velez, 
    934 So. 2d at 1164
    ; City of Coral Springs, 
    803 So. 2d at 850
    . BSO
    sought to meet this burden by showing that the property was “contraband” under
    section 932.701(2)(a)2. or section 932.701(2)(a)5. See § 932.702(2), Fla. Stat.
    (2020) (possession of any “contraband article” is a violation of the Forfeiture Act).
    Under those provisions, BSO needed to show that the property was used “in
    9
    violation of the gambling laws of the state” or “as an instrumentality in the
    commission of, or in aiding or abetting in the commission of, any felony.” §
    932.701(2)(a)2., (2)(a)5., Fla. Stat. (2020).
    BSO failed to meet its burden as to any of the property at issue. As to the
    cash, gold coins, and casino chips that were seized from Zarcadoolas’s home,
    BSO did not make any allegations or present any evidence that those items were
    used in violation of the gambling laws or as instrumentalities in the commission
    of a felony. As to the two seized bank accounts, BSO alleged that the accounts
    were used as instrumentalities in the commission of bookmaking and money
    laundering offenses, but neither Detective B’s affidavit nor the evidence at the
    adversarial preliminary hearing was sufficient to establish probable cause to
    support that allegation.
    Detective B, in his affidavit and testimony, expressed a belief that Zarcadoolas
    was using the seized bank accounts to launder and conceal the cash proceeds
    from the organization’s illegal bookmaking activity. Detective B testified that the
    Chase Bank account registered to Zarcadoolas’s company, MZ Solutions, had an
    unusually high number of deposits and withdrawals in whole-number
    increments, and Zarcadoolas frequently transferred money from that account to
    his personal Bank of America account. But Detective B conceded the accounts
    had very little cash activity and he could not identify any specific deposits that
    could have been traced to the organization’s proceeds.
    Detective B also speculated that the two companies which had been the
    primary sources of the deposits to the Chase Bank account were part of
    Zarcadoolas’s money laundering scheme. But Detective B admitted no evidence
    showed that any of the organization’s proceeds had been deposited to either
    company’s bank accounts.
    In sum, Detective B’s testimony was insufficient to establish probable cause
    to believe that either of the two seized bank accounts was used in violation of
    state gambling laws or as an instrumentality in the commission of a felony, as
    required by sections 932.701(2)(a)2. and 932.701(2)(a)5. Detective B’s mere
    suspicion that Zarcadoolas was engaged in a scheme to launder and conceal the
    cash proceeds from the organization’s illegal bookmaking activity was not
    enough. BSO needed to present some proof that the two bank accounts at issue
    were actually used as part of that scheme. See Campbell v. Racetrack Bingo, Inc.,
    
    75 So. 3d 321
    , 322–23 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011) (affirming an order finding no
    probable cause for the seizure of bank accounts owned by persons and
    companies suspected of violating bingo regulations because no evidence showed
    that the accounts were used to carry out the alleged violations of state gambling
    laws); Waheed v. State, 
    134 So. 3d 531
    , 532–33 (Fla. 5th DCA 2014) (reversing
    an order finding probable cause for the seizure of motor vehicles owned by
    persons and companies allegedly involved in an illegal gambling scheme because
    no evidence showed that the motor vehicles were used as instrumentalities in
    10
    the commission of a felony). BSO failed to meet its burden because it did not
    present any evidence that any of the funds in either bank account could be
    traced to cash proceeds from the organization’s alleged bookmaking activity.
    As set forth above, the trial court erred in finding probable cause under the
    Forfeiture Act for the continued seizure of Zarcadoolas’s property. On remand,
    the court must order BSO to restore Zarcadoolas’s access to the seized Chase
    Bank and Bank of America accounts and return the cash, gold coins, and casino
    chips that were seized from his home.
    Conclusion
    We reverse the order denying Zarcadoolas’s motion to suppress the items that
    were seized from his home and the order finding probable cause under the
    Forfeiture Act for the continued seizure of those items and the two seized bank
    accounts. On remand, the trial court shall order BSO to return to Zarcadoolas
    the cash, gold coins, and casino chips that were seized from his home and restore
    Zarcadoolas’s access to the seized Chase Bank and Bank of America accounts.
    Reversed and remanded with instructions.
    KLINGENSMITH, C.J., CONNER and FORST, JJ., concur.
    *         *        *
    Not final until disposition of timely filed motion for rehearing.
    11