OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Suspended Osceola County Sheriff Marcos Lopez is awaiting trial after pleading not guilty to racketeering charges tied to what prosecutors say was a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling network centered on arcades and casinos in Lake and Osceola counties.
Several co-defendants have already admitted wrongdoing or accepted plea deals, while one remains at large.
The investigation — which began with a tip in 2022 and includes multiple undercover stings, GPS tracking, and search warrants — has produced a string of arrests and guilty pleas that prosecutors say map the operation.
Who’s who?
Marcos Lopez: Awaiting trial after pleading ‘not guilty.’
Robin Severance Lopez: Pleaded guilty to money laundering and providing false information on a bail application
Krishna Deokaran: Pleaded guilty to money laundering
Carol Cote: Pleaded guilty to racketeering
Sharon Fedrick: Pleaded guilty to racketeering
Sheldon Wetherholt: Pleaded no contest to racketeering
Ying Zhang: Still at large
Timeline
Sept. 2022 - Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI) receives Crimeline tip that Eclipse Social Club was operating as a casino
July 2023 - MBI conducts its first undercover operation at Eclipse
December 2023 - Confidential informant contacts Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) alleging Krishna Deokaran was involved in money laundering.
January 2024 - HSI conducts an undercover money laundering sting on Deokaran
Feb 2024 - HSI installs a GPS tracker on Deokaran’s vehicle that shows him frequenting several gaming rooms in Lake and Osceola counties.
April 2024 - HSI conducts undercover operations at three casinos (Players Club, Jungle Hut, Eclipse)
Aug. 27, 2024 -- HSI executes search warrants on Eclipse Social Club, Players Club, and Deokaran’s home.
Sept 5, 2024 — Marcos Lopez’s name appears for the first time in investigative reports during an FDLE interview with Sharon Fedrick.
June 5 - Marcos Lopez arrested
June 23 - Severance Lopez arrested
June 26 – Marcos Lopez bonds out
July 7 – Severance Lopez bonds out
Oct. 6 – Carol Cote pleads guilty
Oct. 13 – Wetherholt pleads no contest, Fedrick pleads guilty
Oct. 23 – Severance Lopez taken into custody
Oct. 27 – Krishna Deokaran arrested
Nov. 24 – Severance Lopez pleads guilty