TALLAHASSEE -- After a tumultuous two years, Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has resigned in the wake of a federal probe into a company she represented with ties to Internet cafes.

"Effective immediately, I hereby resign the Office of Lieutenant Governor of the State of Florida. It has been an honor to have served the State of Florida in this capacity," her two-sentence letter dated Tuesday states.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers interviewed Carroll two days ago about her ties to Allied Veterans of the World, company that runs Internet cafes. On Tuesday, federal law enforcement arrested officials from the company along with a Jacksonville police union chief on racketeering charges.

The non-profit held itself out to be a charity for veterans that was associated with the Veterans Administration and oversaw dozens of store-front "electronic sweepstakes" centers that it called "fund-raising centers," according to a federal search warrant affidavit, prepared by an Internal Revenue agent.

"In fact, the 'fundraising centers' were nothing more than internet casinos that operated slot machines in violation of Florida's gambling laws," the affidavit said.

That amounted to "a conspiracy and scheme to defraud the public and governmental agencies," the affidavit said.

The company grossed $290 million between 2007 and 2012, the affidavit said, but only donated $6 million to charity.

Gov. Rick Scott's office is not expected to name a replacement for Carroll until after the 60-day legislative session ends in May. One candidate on Scott's short-list in 2010, Miami Sen. Anitere Flores, declined to comment on her interest. "Rather not right now. Jennifer is a good friend," she said after a Capitol committee hearing.

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