Jim Smith, owner of Jim's Pawn at 6526 B, S.
Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, has officially surren-
dered his license for the shop, the Sarasota
County Sheriff's Office reported on June 2.
According to the Florida Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services, an inci-
dent in mid-May involving the shop was the
first time the Agriculture Department shut
down such a business and revoked the own-
er's license, a news release explains.
On May 14, the Sheriff's Office announced
the state action, noting that Smith was the
central figure in Operation Recommit, "an
investigation that resulted in the arrest of
six members of an organized crime ring."
The release added, "Smith knowingly bought
SARASOTA PAWN SHOP FIRST TO BE SHUT DOWN BY STATE OFFICIALS
Lt. John Jernigan (pictured) and Detective Anthony Colonna of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office
and William Daniels, senior financial investigator with the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services, discussed the Jim's Pawn case in May. Video courtesy of the Sheriff's Office
James Smith/Contributed photo
Sarasota News Leader June 6, 2014 Page 81
