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- A defendant in an illegal gambling case has provided new evidence against an alleged co-conspirator
- One of the defendants in the gambling case is the former sheriff of Osceola County
- Illegal gambling dens and so-called “arcades” in Florida remain a widespread problem for law enforcement
The case against a former Florida county sheriff and his estranged wife has expanded after she refused a plea deal and another defendant came forward with new allegations.
(L to R) Former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, Krishna Deokaran, and Robin Severance-Lopez have been charged with running a multicounty illegal gambling network in Florida. Severance-Lopez has denied participating in the scheme. (Image: Lake County Sheriff’s Office)Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez was arrested in June on allegations that he conspired with at least two individuals to run illegal gambling cafes across three counties. In exchange for protection, Lopez is accused of taking financial kickbacks that approached seven digits.
Lopez was relieved of his law enforcement duties following his arrest. In September, Casino.org reported that Lopez conspired with Krishna Deokaran and Ying Zhang to open an illegal casino in Kissimmee in December 2022. The Eclipse Social Club, which state authorities would later raid, allegedly generated gaming revenue of nearly $22 million in just two years.
Sheriff’s Gambling Empire
Lopez’s ascent to top cop in Osceola County was much celebrated, as he was the first Hispanic sheriff in the county when he won election in 2020 and was sworn in on Jan. 5, 2021.
Lopez’s motives in becoming the head law enforcer of the county home to almost half a million people, however, were disingenuous. Instead of striving to make the community safer, Lopez allegedly used his power for his own financial gain.
Prosecutors believe the corruption extended to Lopez’s wife, Robin Severance-Lopez. Now estranged, Severance-Lopez refused a plea deal that would have settled racketeering and lying to a judge charges in exchange for probation and her testimony against her husband and Deokaran.
Deokaran, who has been charged with running a gambling racket and money laundering, is now coming at Severance-Lopez. In newly disclosed court documents, Deokaran tells law enforcement that he handed manila envelopes full of cash to Severance-Lopez, telling her, “This is for Marcos.”
Severance-Lopez has denied her involvement in the illegal gambling enterprise, which, in addition to Eclipse Social, allegedly extended to illegal gambling cafes in Sumter and Lake counties. Her attorneys say the crux of the case against her only hangs on her husband allegedly forming an LLC under her name that he used to funnel illicit proceeds from the gambling enterprise into his possession.
Deokaran’s newly disclosed claims could hurt her defense, though her attorneys will presumably argue that Deokaran is simply trying to defend the former sheriff.
Florida’s Gambling Problem
Legal casino gambling in Florida is limited to the Seminole Tribe’s six casinos, slot machines at racinos within Miami-Dade and Broward counties, and electronic bingo-based games operated by the Miccosukee Tribe. Despite the legal options, illegal gambling rooms, often billed as arcades, continue to proliferate in the Sunshine State.
Persons found guilty of operating an illegal gambling enterprise in Florida typically are only charged with misdemeanor penalties. A bill earlier this year to heighten such charges to felonies died in the House of Representatives.
The Florida Gaming Control Commission continues to urge the public to report suspected illegal gambling businesses, which often do little to conceal their rogue slot machines. Many such enterprises rent retail shopping space, darken the windows, and lock the doors, with patrons needing to ring a buzzer to be granted entry.
The state encourages tips to be submitted here.
The post Florida Court Docs Allege Osceola Sheriff’s Wife Had Hand in Illegal Casino Ring appeared first on Casino.org.
