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News 6, the local CBS affiliate in Orlando, has exclusively obtained video surveillance footage showing undercover agents infiltrating two Central Florida casinos allegedly tied to suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez.
Lopez was arrested on first-degree felonies in June of this past year and has plead not guilty and is awaiting trail. He is currently out on a $1 million bond and insists he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
The video shows rows of what investigators describe as Las Vegas-style slot machines.
The video obtained by News 6 shows agents inserting cash into the machines and almost immediately winning money, according to court records. One agent not visible on camera reportedly hit a $400 jackpot.
When an undercover agent was ready to cash out, he reported having to flag down a casino employee to be paid — an interaction captured on the hidden camera audio.
The operation, which involved four other defendants, ran a lottery, slot machines and a “gambling house” out of a business known as Fusion Social Club in a tourist-heavy area of Kissimmee, Florida, according to court documents. The organization took in more than $21.6 million in illicit proceeds, authorities said.
“As law enforcement, we are held to higher standards of integrity and character than other professions,” Florida Department of Law Enforcement Commissioner Mark Glass said in a statement. “This case revealed that Lopez violated the trust and integrity expected of him as the duly elected sheriff of Osceola County.”
Lopez took campaign contributions and personal payments as well as protected the gambling operation, according to a statement put out by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier.
Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended Lopez almost immediately as part of an executive order and appointed a Florida Highway Patrol official to be the county’s sheriff.
According to Homeland Security Investigations, the investigation began some time in 2023.
A 255-page federal affidavit details Lopez’s alleged role in securing leases, recruiting members, and collecting cash payments tied to Eclipse Social Club.
Lopez's estranged wife also faced racketeering charges and has since plead guilty to a less serious charge of money laundering as part of a plea deal.
Robin Severance-Lopez will serve 24 months probation.
Even if the couple is separated or estranged, Florida law still treats them as married until a divorce is finalized. As such, Severance-Lopez cannot be compelled to testify against her husband.
Florida Hitting Illegal Gambling Establishments Hard
On March 6, authorities seized 525 gaming machines and nearly $200,000 in cash over a 48 hour period as part of another sweeping gambling investigation. Uthmeier said the number is likely to continue rising as the investigation progresses. Establishments throughout Central and Northern Florida were raided, including convenience stores, bars and restaurants. Over a dozen venues in the Jacksonville area alone were cited but most of these remain open, per a Gambling911.com review.
“It also brings in human trafficking and drugs, prostitution, and all kinds of other problems for these communities,” said State Rep. Jason Shoaf, R- Port St. Joe in regards to the other types of criminal behavior often tied to illegal gambling facilities.
Lawmakers have been attempting to push through legislation that would impose stiffer penalties on illegal gambling operators popping up across the state. However, the state's legislative session ends this Friday (March 13th).
“What we’re finding is that a lot of these bad actors are getting closed down only to open up a few doors down or a few streets away under a misdemeanor penalty. So, this will create a third-degree felony,” said State Rep. Dana Trabulsy, R-Fort Pierce.
- Alejandro Botticelli, Gambling911.com
