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A Boca Raton man previously convicted in an illegal sports gambling case has been arrested again, this time on new bookmaking and money laundering charges tied to an alleged offshore betting operation, according to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said Devon Alexander Shalmi, 42, was arrested Sept. 8. He faces charges including money laundering, bookmaking, unlawful use of a two-way communication device, keeping a gambling house, and two conspiracy counts. He was booked into the Palm Beach County jail, where bond was set at $3 million.
Investigators say the case centered on offshore wagers and disguised payments
The sheriff’s office said the new investigation began Aug. 18, 2025, after a confidential informant reported that a man identified as Devon was running an illegal bookmaking operation through an offshore gaming website.
Investigators said they later used an undercover account to place wagers over several weeks. According to the sheriff’s office, gambling debts were settled through electronic payments sent to an account tied to a co-conspirator who had also been arrested with Shalmi in 2015.
Authorities further alleged that bettors were told to disguise gambling-related payments with descriptions such as “consulting fee.” Investigators said that payment pattern, along with the movement of funds through multiple accounts, was consistent with money laundering.
Bank records allegedly showed more than $3 million in account activity
According to the sheriff’s office, a subpoena for a business account linked to Shalmi’s company, SJS Contractor Solutions, showed about $3.05 million in deposits and about $2.99 million in disbursements between August 2025 and July 2026.
Investigators said the transactions did not resemble those of a legitimate contracting business. The sheriff’s office pointed to rounded-dollar transfers, a high volume of peer-to-peer payments, and disbursements that included more than $830,000 toward credit cards, more than $25,000 to college savings accounts, and more than $22,800 in online purchases.
Prior conviction is part of the case background
Authorities said Shalmi previously pleaded guilty in 2017 to money laundering and felony use of a two-way communication device in an earlier illegal sports gambling case. He was sentenced to five years of probation.
For Florida players, the case is another example of law enforcement focusing not just on alleged illegal betting activity, but also on how gambling payments are moved and labeled. Court proceedings following the latest arrest were not detailed in the source report.
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Source: As reported by Missy Diaz.
