Arrest of Wife of Suspended Florida Sheriff in Alleged Racketeering and Gambling Scandal
Florida Faces Crackdown on Widespread Illegal Gambling Network
An extensive illegal gambling operation, active since 2019, has been uncovered in Florida, with multiple unauthorized casinos and gambling dens discovered across various counties. The multi-agency investigation, led by Homeland Security Investigations and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, has resulted in several arrests and seizures of gambling equipment and proceeds.
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez and Wife Arrested
Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez, 56, was arrested on June 5 on charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering. His wife, Robin Lynn Severance Lopez, was arrested on June 23, 2025, on charges of conspiracy to use or invest proceeds tied to racketeering. The Lopezes are accused of being involved in an illicit gambling operation centred around a business in Kissimmee known as Fusion Social Club, also operating under the name Eclipse Social Club.
Sheriff Lopez, who was elected as Osceola County's first Hispanic sheriff in 2020 and reelected in 2024, is alleged to have initially become involved for personal enrichment, accepting cash payments and campaign support. Robin Lynn Severance Lopez's charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years, and she is being held without bond. Sheriff Lopez's bond has been set at $1 million.
Expanded Network of Illegal Gambling Operations
By mid-2022, Lopez and four others (Ying Zhang, Sharon Fedrick, Sheldon Wetherholt, and Carol Cote) were allegedly managing the venue and collecting profits from its illegal activities. The illegal gambling dens proliferated in counties including Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and Okeechobee. These operations often moved locations to evade law enforcement, with over 50 businesses reported in Sarasota County at their peak, shrinking to about eight by July 2025.
A search warrant was executed at Orioles Bar in Okeechobee on July 15, 2025, where investigators seized six unregistered slot machines and poker setups. The bar owner, Sylvester Charles Spinetta, was linked to the machines and turned himself in, facing charges for manufacture, possession, and sale of illegal gaming equipment.
A major coordinated law enforcement action targeted Port Richey on August 4-6, 2025, resulting in the shutdown of five illegal casinos. Authorities confiscated 249 illegal slot machines and seized nearly $194,262 in suspected gambling proceeds. Eight individuals were issued Notices to Appear for gambling-related offenses.
Challenges in Enforcement
Law enforcement agencies involved include the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC), local police departments of Port Richey and New Port Richey, and county sheriff offices such as Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office. Enforcement efforts face challenges such as resource constraints, the secretive nature of operations, and the ease with which operators relocate to avoid closure.
Context
Despite legislative attempts to impose stiffer penalties on illegal gambling dens, a key 93-page bill sponsored by State Sen. Corey Simon stalled in 2025, complicating efforts to permanently shut down these operations. Law enforcement describes these illegal gambling dens as “nuisances” often linked with other crimes such as drug dealing and violence, indicating broad community impact.
Crackdowns have also resulted in significant cash and equipment seizures, for example, $92,167 seized along with 401 illegal machines in another recent raid. This series of events illustrates a widespread and evolving illegal gambling network in Florida that law enforcement continues to target through raids, prosecutions, and calls for stronger legal frameworks.
Additional Context
Last year, Lopez drew international criticism for inadvertently posting an image of the body of a teenage murder victim to Instagram with the caption "Great day with our seniors. #florida #senior @sheriffmarcoslopez." The investigation into the illegal gambling operation has been ongoing for over two years. Later, Lopez is alleged to have leveraged his role in law enforcement to protect the operation from scrutiny.
- Osceola County Sheriff Marcos R. Lopez, currently facing charges of racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering, was involved in an illicit gambling operation centered around the Fusion Social Club in Kissimmee.
- The investigation into widespread illegal gambling operations in Florida has led to the arrest of Robin Lynn Severance Lopez, wife of the Osceola County Sheriff, on charges of conspiracy to use or invest proceeds tied to racketeering.
- In addition to the Fusion Social Club, illegal gambling dens were also found to be operating in several other counties, including Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte, and Okeechobee.
- The raid on Orioles Bar in Okeechobee resulted in the seizure of six unregistered slot machines and poker setups, leading to the issue of charges against bar owner Sylvester Charles Spinetta.
- The illegal gambling network in Florida has been linked to other crimes such as drug dealing and violence, indicating a broad community impact, and law enforcement continues to target the network through raids, prosecutions, and calls for stronger legal frameworks.
