Defendant in Gambling Case Alleges Ex-Wife of Former Osceola Sheriff Involvement
Claims of Collusion Involving Former Sheriff’s Ex-Wife
New evidence has emerged that may link Robin Severance-Lopez, the ex-wife of former Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez, to the criminal investigation against him.
Lopez and two associates were detained on allegations of running an illegal gambling operation spanning three counties.
Severance-Lopez was also arrested and charged with conspiracy to launder money obtained through racketeering activities.
She declined a plea agreement that would have required her to testify against Lopez and subjected her to probation.
The proposed deal would have dropped charges related to racketeering and providing false statements to a judge.
Her legal counsel contends that her connection to the case is solely through an LLC that Lopez purportedly established using her name to manage assets from the gambling ring.
The allegations concerning Severance-Lopez stem from claims made by Krishna Deokaran, one of Lopez’s alleged partners in crime.
Severance-Lopez has denied any participation in the illegal gambling activities.
Abuse of Authority
Marcos Lopez was apprehended in June along with two alleged co-conspirators for managing unlawful gambling venues across three states.
Though recognized as the country’s first Hispanic sheriff, questions have arisen about his true intentions for seeking office.
Lopez currently faces charges including racketeering and conspiracy to commit racketeering.
Following his arrest, he was removed from his position as sheriff of Osceola County.
Details of the Illegal Gambling Operation
Florida has experienced widespread illegal gambling, with some establishments disguising themselves as legitimate arcades.
Despite numerous legal gambling facilities available, these illicit operations continue to thrive.
Penalties for those convicted of running such illegal gambling rings tend to be relatively lenient.
The investigation into this illegal ring began in 2023, revealing that the operation may have started as early as 2019 and continued into 2024.
The probe was led by Homeland Security Investigations alongside the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
In addition to Lopez, others involved are also charged with racketeering and conspiracy.
Lopez, Krishna Deokaran, and Ying Zhang allegedly ran an illegal gambling business operating under the facade of an arcade in Kissimmee.
This front was reportedly known as the Fusion Social Club or the Eclipse Social Club.
The hidden operation focused on running illegal slot machines while maintaining the appearance of a legitimate social club.
