By Ciara Perez, News Reporter | iSkyNews (ISC)
Published November 3rd, 2024
Winter Haven, FL — A recent investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office has led to criminal charges against two employees of Da Place Hookah Lounge for selling alcohol without a license. Undercover detectives visited the lounge, located at 3547 Recker Highway, on October 29 and 30, 2024, and were able to buy liquor and beer, despite the business lacking the proper license to do so.
The lounge’s operator, 33-year-old Wandy Noel, was charged with two counts of Maintaining a Business to Sell Alcohol Unlawfully, a third-degree felony. Meanwhile, 26-year-old Sallie Henry, a bartender, was charged with the misdemeanor of selling alcohol without a license.
Detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked with the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation’s Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (ABT) to confirm that Da Place Hookah Lounge was operating without an alcohol license. During their investigation, authorities seized 111 bottles of alcohol, including wine, beer, and liquor.